Monday, 31 January 2011

Android Community

Android Community

Android Tablets Gaining on Apple Quickly

Posted: 31 Jan 2011 11:09 AM PST

Strategy Analytics is reporting today that Android software has boosted its share in tablets almost 10x in the fourth quarter of 2010. Shipments of Android tablets went from 100,000 in the third quarter of 2010 to 2.1 million units, this to be contrasted with Apple‘s jump from 1.9 million tablets in quarter three to 7.3 million in quarter four, all of this in 2010. Android held 22 percent of the global market in tablets the fourth quarter of 2010, up from 2.3 percent the quarter before.

Neil Mawston, director at Strategy Analytics, said the following about the situation: “Apple's volumes will continue to go up, but market share will inevitably go down. Even at $500 retail [for the iPad], based on some of the research we've done, that's probably two or three times more than what most mass market consumers are expecting to pay. If you were to ask me in two years time, will Apple have less than 50 percent of the global tablet market, I think that's a certainty.”

In related news, Canalys research group showed Android becoming the world’s best selling smartphone operating system in the fourth quarter of 2010. Take a look at that story [here]

[Via Business Week]

)


Nexus S Heading To Vodafone Germany

Posted: 31 Jan 2011 11:01 AM PST

The current star of Android and the face of Android 2.3 Gingerbread, the Nexus S, will be coming Vodafone Germany. As seen by the Vodafone preview site, the Nexus S is clearly listed as an upcoming device.

We have heard speculation of the deal for quite some time now, and this all but officially confirms the device, which we reviewed here, would be hitting the German carrier.

Although it appears to only be launching in black, for now, the device would be a much welcome addition to the Vodafone Germany lineup. Anyone plan on picking one up?

)


LG Optimux 2X Dump – Live and Static Wallpapers, Ringtones, More [FROM THE FORUMS]

Posted: 31 Jan 2011 10:45 AM PST

Oh my goodness would you look at that – a friendly fellow that I believe we can thank for a previous dump of wallpapers (from Android 3.0 Honeycomb) has come back to deliver a package containing not only the static wallpapers from the new LG Optimus 2X APK, but some ringtones and other sounds as well as a few live wallpapers. Wonderful!

Take a peek at the thread in the discussion forums to grab the download link, and be sure to thank Hamburger for his or her intrepid awesomeness in bringing these files to light! Take a look at a few of the wallpapers you’ve got in store here, and if you’d like to know more about Android 3.0 Honeycomb, take a look at our two in-depth guides, one for [Everyday Users] and one for [Developers]!

wallpaper_zebra wallpaper_windmil wallpaper_sky wallpaper_flower_sky wallpaper_blue nvidia_wallpaper_dual07 nvidia_wallpaper_dual03 nvidia_wallpaper_dual07 )


HTC ThunderBolt unofficially unboxed and given a walk-through

Posted: 31 Jan 2011 10:45 AM PST

This weekend a video was posted on YouTube that was an unboxing of the upcoming HTC ThunderBolt. The phone was unboxed and given a quick walk-thorugh but it’s obviously pre-release packaging.

If you are obsessing over the device, the video is definitely worth a view. The unboxer seems to know a whole lot about the device which would explain why he has his hands on a pre-release version of the device.

Click here to view the embedded video.

It’s worth noting that the device in the video does not have the final version of HTC Sense that it will be shipping with, but you can see that it’s definitely fast and everything is smooth.

Who is excited for the ThunderBolt?

[Via DroidLife]

)


Motorola XOOM Super Bowl Teaser Ad Hits the Internet

Posted: 31 Jan 2011 10:30 AM PST

Motorola has published a new teaser for the Motorola XOOM. Supposedly a teaser for the Super Bowl ad this Sunday, the minute clip features Motorola stating that it’s time to break free from control from a single manufacturer, this is 2011 not 1984.

The ad, of course, is heavily targeting the iPad. Boasting the XOOMs impressive specs, we can tell that it’s “out of this world.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Let’s all just hope the advertisement that airs on Sunday is a lot more impressive than scrolling specs through space.

What do you think of the teaser? Super Bowl quality?

)


Nextel Motorola i1Q Spotted

Posted: 31 Jan 2011 10:18 AM PST

As phones become more and more advanced, they usually become very fragile or at least not “durable” at all. This is not what many need, and durable options such as the original Motorola i1 and Defy become much needed devices. GrupoAndroid has uncovered pictures of what’s claimed to be the Motorola i1Q.

The device definitely looks like a more rugged DROID PRO with its full QWERTY keyboard. Sadly, the device is a bit behind on the times. Running Android 2.1 and a weak in comparison processor the device will not be targeted to the high-end user, but it will bring Android further into the rugged space.

Any users looking for a durable phone? Would the upcoming Motorola i1Q be something that would benefit you in your workspace?

[Via Phandroid]

)


LG Optimus 3D, Are You ready for 3D in the Mobile Space?

Posted: 31 Jan 2011 09:42 AM PST

Mobile World Congress is quickly approaching and we’re expecting a lot of devices from all companies. However, one device that’s gaining the most traction online is the LG Optimus 3D. We all know that LG is planning to enter the mobile 3D space and it seems the Optimus 3D will be their flagship device – but is the world ready for mobile 3D?

Now 3D is huge in the TV industry and even though consumer adoption has been pretty acceptable (Samsung stated they sold well over 1 million units in 2010) users think that it’s pretty gimmicky and might just be a phase. The mobile space, especially featuring glasses-less displays will hopefully be a completely different situation.

Either way, we’re definitely excited for the LG Optimus 3D can’t wait until LG’s press event February 14th and see if we like the mobile 3D experience.

What do you think of mobile 3D? Would it be something that interests you, or just a phase that you do not want to be a suffering early adapter to?

)


Atrix HD Multimedia Dock Retailing for $59?

Posted: 31 Jan 2011 09:25 AM PST

The Atrix 4G is a device that is going to be highly focused on accessories. Whether it’s the laptop dock or multimedia dock, the device is not just a cellphone, it’s a mobile computer. And now, according to a listing on Fommy.com, it seems the HD multimedia dock will retail for $59.

Currently only a place-holder page, the $59 price-tag definitely seems like a fitting option for the dock. For $59, you will gain access to 3 USB ports, and a micro HDMI port for HD playback.

Essentially allowing your Atrix to becoming a desktop computer, once docked the phone will push out the new Motorola web top user interface for a true desktop experience. We still do not have a official release date for the Atrix other then “the end of February.” But so far it seems that $150 will be a good price for the device considering all of the accessories everyone will want to buy.

Which accessories are you looking to pick up for the Atrix? Would the laptop or desktop-like options be more for you? Let us know!

[Via AndroidAndMe]

)


Which Verizon devices have had rebate changes?

Posted: 31 Jan 2011 08:25 AM PST

This weekend we heard about Verizon’s plans to change the rebate system that got rid of rebates on smartphones over $150. This didn’t mean the phones would be offered for more, but the user would not have to go through the lengthy mail-in process. Now a list has been discovered at exactly which devices will still feature a rebate and it’s as follows.

We still aren’t 100-percent sure of what this means. Hopefully it means what was said earlier, and that the old rebates will simply be taken off allowing the user to not have to deal with the whole process. But, if not, expect to be paying $100+ more for devices on Verizon starting today.

[Via DroidLife]

)


Droid Bionic Appears on Amazon for $149

Posted: 31 Jan 2011 08:15 AM PST

Just as we saw the Motorola Atrix listed on Amazon for $149 last week, a new page for the upcoming DROID BIONIC has appeared on the site. Featuring the same, surprisingly low price-point of $149 it seems far too early for the device to make its debut on the online retailer.

We’re still expecting the device to launch in early summer so it comes as a big surprise that it has been posted so early. But, mistakes happen and products are placed up early all the time to serve as place-holders.

The $149 could be such a place-holder, but, if not, what do you think of the price-point? Does it make the DROID BIONIC the top device for you for 2011?

[Via DroidLife]

)


Japan Brings Android Tablet-Based Home Phones to Market

Posted: 31 Jan 2011 08:07 AM PST

In a market where the home phone is quickly being replaced by cellular devices, Japanese telecommunications company, Nakayo, is preparing an IP home phone that features an integrated 7-inch Android-based tablet.

The phone is ultra-versitile allowing users to use on-screen controls to perform basic functions of the phone, and even use the tablet, with built-in microphone, to talk while walking around the house.

Not only a home phone, the still yet to be named phone system will also be a fully functioning Android 2.2 tablet. It will offer Wi-Fi IEEE802.11b/g, a 800×480 resolution, USB port, a 0.3MP camera, and a microSDHC slot.

Expect to see this device hit Japan this July for a yet to be determined price.

[Via MobileCrunch]

)


LG’s Optimus 3D caught in wild?

Posted: 31 Jan 2011 07:04 AM PST

A photo of what’s believed to be the LG Optimus 3D has leaked, though the identity of the mysterious smartphone – or, indeed, it’s expected glasses-free 3D display – have not been confirmed. According to Phandroid‘s tipster the smartphone has a touchscreen larger than 4-inches – likely to be 4.3-inches like the Desire HD – together with a “dual-core processor and multi-channel RAM.”

Given the Optimus 2X runs on NVIDIA’s Tegra 2, it doesn’t seem too unlikely that LG would have picked the same chip for the Optimus 3D; still, we’ll have to wait until the expected debut at MWC 2011 to find out for sure. Android Community will be at the Barcelona show bringing back all the details!

)


Dell Streak 7 $200 from February 2 confirms T-Mobile USA

Posted: 31 Jan 2011 06:05 AM PST

T-Mobile USA has announced pricing and availability for the Dell Streak 7, which will go on sale on February 2 2011. The 7-inch 4G HSPA+ Android slate will be priced at $199.99 with a new, two-year agreement (and following a $50 mail-in rebate).

As promised, that’s significantly less than the rumored pricing that circulated earlier this month. More information – plus a sign-up notifier – at T-Mobile’s update page here.

)


Enspert E201 7-inch Android tablet breaks cover

Posted: 31 Jan 2011 04:24 AM PST

A new tablet has hit the market hailing from Korea under the Enspert name that is called the E201. The tablet has a 7-inchs screen and runs Android 2.1 Froyo as the OS. The specifications of the tablet are pretty nice as is the price.

The tablet uses an ARM Cortex-A8 CPU at 1GHz. It has 512MB of RAM and the resolution on the 7-inch capacitive touchscreen is 800 x 480. The rear camera on the tablet is a 3MP unit and it has a camera on the front. The exact resolution of that front camera isn't offered, but it is thought to be 640 x 480.

The tablet offers WiFi, Bluetooth, mini-HDMI output, mini-USB port, and a SD card slot for extra storage. It also has a 3.5mm headphone port and packs in sensors like an accelerometer, GPS, manometer, and an ambient light sensor. The tablet will be offered in the US via Dynamism with pre-orders kicking off on February 1 and shipments going out on the 15. The tablet will sell for $349, which is not bad at all considering the specs.

Via Carrypad

)


ASRock to enter Tablet market with Android offerings

Posted: 31 Jan 2011 04:14 AM PST

ASRock is a tech firm that has been around for a while in the computer hardware market. The company makes some interesting mainboards for computer geeks that like to roll their own systems. DigiTimes reports that ASRock is set to enter the tablet PC market in Q2 2011. The entry will come with lots of help from Pegatron Technology, the parent company of ASRock.

Pegatron is the builder of tablets and computers that are sold under many of the brand names we all know. ASRock is eyeing entry into the tablet market with 7-inch and 10-inch screens. According to DigiTimes, the tablets will only be offered with NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor and Android 3.0 as the OS.

The news of Android tablets comes from Li Jun-Ying, sales division VP for Pegatron Technology. DigiTimes also reports that ASRock didn’t hit its sales goals for mainboard in 2010. The firm wanted to ship 9 million mainboards, but only shipped 8 million.

)


Canalys reports Android is the top smartphone platform in the world

Posted: 31 Jan 2011 03:49 AM PST

Research firm Canalys has announced the results of its smartphone market data for Q4 2010. According to the data Android is the world’s leading smartphone platform. Shipment of Android smartphones globally for the quarter hit 32.9 million with Symbian devices biting at Android’s shiny metal butt with 31 million units shipped.

The overall smartphone market in Q4 2011 boomed with total shipments of 101.2 million units globally for a year over year growth rate of 89%. Android was helped in the quarter by strong performances by LG, Samsung, Acer, and HTC who all predominantly work with Android on their devices. LG grew by a massive 4,127% in the quarter.

HTC and Samsung together account for about 45% of all Google OS handset shipments. Apple was behind Nokia Symbian with 16.2 million units shipped and about half the volume of Android for the quarter. RIM was next with 14.6 million and Microsoft in the fifth place spot with a mere 3.1 million units shipped.

)


Motorola Xoom may land as early as February

Posted: 31 Jan 2011 03:37 AM PST

Any tech firm knows that there are some distinct advantages to be first to market in a new category or running a new and important OS or feature. The iPad certainly reaped the benefits of being the first tablet to the market and is still riding that wave.

At CES, hoards of tablets with Android 3.0 were being shown off and talked about and one of the coolest that we saw was the Motorola Xoom. We have previously heard that the Xoom 3G might slip to a March date for shipment. DigiTimes is now reporting that the Xoom might launch in February.

A February launch would be a good thing for fans waiting to get their hands on the Xoom and for Motorola since it would likely beat other Android 3.0 tablets to market by a month if it launches in February. DigiTimes reports that HTC, RIM, Samsung, and LG may need to wait until March and that Acer, Asus, and Toshiba may push back to April of May for launch of Android 3.0 tablets.

)


Google pushing internal app development in play for mobile software market

Posted: 31 Jan 2011 02:20 AM PST

In a move that could seriously impact third-party developers, Google is reportedly making significant investment into in-house app designers for mobile software. According to the WSJ‘s sources, Google is hiring software engineers, product managers, user-interface experts and others with Android app concepts, as well as re-purposing existing staff, to significantly broaden the number and quality of mobile apps they offer.

The new strategy is apparently intended to further take on Apple, which has a strong reputation for solid in-house apps. Some of the new Google titles would be Android-specific, the sources claim, but not all, and Google will bankroll small teams with product-manager Benjamin Ling supposedly taking responsibility for overall management of the project.

)


LG gives G-Slate another video outing

Posted: 31 Jan 2011 01:52 AM PST

To be honest we’d prefer a gallery of high-resolution photos and a full spec sheet about the LG G-Slate, rather than the company’s apparent marketing strategy of squeezing the upcoming Honeycomb slate into promotional videos, but in the end we’ll make do with what they give us. After showing up in Korea last month, courtesy of K-Pop star Seungri, the G-Slate has now cropped up again in a MysteryGuitarMan video.

The two cameras get another brief showing, this time separated with a “with Google” metal band similar to what’s on the back of the Optimus 2X, along with an LED flash and a smudge of ports across the bottom. Beyond that we’re left enjoying the music and puzzling the strategy.

[via Engadget]

)


AT&T to Launch Massive Amount of Android and 4G Devices in 2011

Posted: 30 Jan 2011 07:25 PM PST

SO we’ve just received an image stamped with the mark of our pals over at Phandroid, an image that appears to detail the future of AT&T through 2011. This sheet notes that AT&T is the fastest network, that their HSPA+ network blasts content out at 4x the speed of the networks they’ve already got in place, that this HSPA+ aka 4G network will be deployed to “virtually” 100% of their networks through this year, that AT&T allows for talk and data simultaneously while Sprint and Verizon don’t, that AT&T is the only HSPA+ AND LTE committed US company, that even when customers go off of LTE they’ll still have faster mobile broadband speeds with HSPA+, and something fantastic that matters more than all of this. Actually three things, if you think about it. What three things, you ask?

First, AT&T is saying they’ll have two EXCLUSIVE 4G devices in the first quarter of 2011 and will have TWENTY by the end of 2011. Of course this could mean anything, right? They could all be webOS devices. Naw. The third and most awesome note noted on this sheet is that AT&T is committed to Android and will have 12 new devices by the end of 2011. Gotta catch em all!

[Via Phandroid]

)


Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)