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- Motorola DROID R2-D2 Now Only $99.99
- Motorola XOOM coming in 2 weeks? Buccaneer Gerald McCoy says so
- Archos 5 Tablet Only $240 Today on Amazon
- LG Optimus V – Official Announcement for Valentines Day
- Samsung Fascinate’s Froyo Leak Available for Download
- 43-Percent of Smartphone Purchases Are Android-Based, Android Share Still Growing Exponentially
- Your Entire Music Library in the Cloud, Streamed to your Android Device, Announced Tomorrow
- LG Readying NFC For the European Market, Launching 2012
- HTC Inspire 4G due at AT&T Feb 13 priced at $100
- Galaxy Tab sales “smooth” not “small” insists Samsung
- Linux Foundation offers Android dev courses
- Honeycomb for NOOKcolor ROM released [Update: Video!]
- Aussie develops software that connects phones directly without a mobile carrier
- Motorola XOOM gets football flaunt as Chad Ochocinco shows off slate
- Galaxy Tab returns sky-high say analysts: Froyo to blame?
- Cowon D3 Android MP3 player hits pre-order
- Sony Ericsson XPERIA update released: Multitouch for X10, ANT+ for X8
- Samsung Galaxy S2 teaser stars an FX blooper [Video]
- LG Optimus 3D official: 3D display & camera, coming to MWC 2011
- Notion Ink Adam Blotchy Pixel Qi Screen and Defective Camera Shown Off by Rambler
Motorola DROID R2-D2 Now Only $99.99 Posted: 01 Feb 2011 10:17 AM PST Remember the Star Wars DROID R2-D2? The device brought to market for the “ultra-fans” has just seen a price drop as Verizon navigates away from offering up online rebates. The Motorola DROID R2-D2 has now been cut to $99.99 with a 2-year agreement.
Now is probably the best time to pick up the unique device which is impressive both visually and performance-wise. Be sure to check out or uboxing and hands-on which might help you make the final decision if you’d like to be carrying around one of these devices. [Via BGR] ) |
Motorola XOOM coming in 2 weeks? Buccaneer Gerald McCoy says so Posted: 01 Feb 2011 10:03 AM PST For those unaware, Tampa Bay Buccaneer Gerald McCoy has joined up with Motorola at this year’s Super Bowl to provide sporadic news from a football player’s perspective. Joining Chad Chad Ochocino and the OCNN, the player have been tweeting about the upcoming XOOM tablet. According to the last tweet from McCoy, the XOOM should be coming in 2 weeks. We’ve heard that the device will launch in February and dates such as the 17th have been rumored, but, if McCoy was told anything about the upcoming release, we should expect it around the 14-17 at latest. No matter the official date, it’s coming, and it’s coming soon. Who is excited to finally get their hands on Android 3.0 (Honeycomb)? What features are you personally looking forward to the most? [Via DroidLife] ) |
Archos 5 Tablet Only $240 Today on Amazon Posted: 01 Feb 2011 09:42 AM PST Looking for an Android tablet for half off? Today is your lucky day as Amazon has just cut the price of the Archos 5 500 GB Android tablet to $239.99. For the new price tag you will be getting an Android tablet, and although it’s a bit behind the times and lacking main features, it’s a decent option for anyone just looking for a browsing device. The Archos 5 includes a 500 GB internal hard drive, 5-inch 800×480 resolution screen and a 800MHz processor. Shipping with Android 1.6 Donut (we know, it’s old), the device will be able to handle most multi-media needs. However, it’s worth noting that the device doesn’t ship with Google’s standard suite of applications, so if you’re looking for the Android Market, Gmail, or Google Maps you will have to use alternative methods to get them on your device. The sale is today only and the 32GB flash storage model has also been cut to $290 fro $380. [Via AndroidCentral] ) |
LG Optimus V – Official Announcement for Valentines Day Posted: 01 Feb 2011 09:33 AM PST The LG Optimus line just got a little bigger with an official announcement of the LG Optimus V, a higher-end-of-entry-level Android phone priced at $149.99 and set to release on Valentines Day through Virgin Mobile. Details available to us now include a 3.2-inch touchscreen display, 3G and Wifi capable, 3.2 megapixel camera, video, and we’re gonna send out a wild guess and say that it’ll have Android 2.2 Froyo. If it’s anything like it’s brother LG Optimus U, it’ll be a nice little phone that zips around fast as you’d expect a phone in this price range to do so. More than likely this phone will end up being free on contract sooner than later.
Take a peek at the full press release below and see here some nice high-resolution photos for your pleasure: ) |
Samsung Fascinate’s Froyo Leak Available for Download Posted: 01 Feb 2011 09:31 AM PST Just last week the internet was made aware that the Verizon Froyo update for the Samsung Fascinate had been leaked. Even though Kaos would not release it at that time he confirmed its existence. However, now it is available for download for Samsung customers who have waited far too long to be enjoying the updates that came along with Android 2.3 Froyo.
The update is build number DL30 which is Froyo with full TouchWiz integration and comes with all of the VZW and Samsung bloatware just as the official release will. The ROM is available now to download from XDA and it’s worth noting that it comes pre-rooted. ) |
43-Percent of Smartphone Purchases Are Android-Based, Android Share Still Growing Exponentially Posted: 01 Feb 2011 09:16 AM PST Nielsen has published their latest findings, this time October 2009-December 2010. Just as expected, Android is growing, and growing fast. Currently in a dead heat with both Apple and RIM, Android holds 27-percent of the current market share.
You can see from the graph above that Android truly is skyrocketing in operating system share. RIM’s Blackberry OS has been on the decline and Apple’s iOS has been relatively steady, but once you look at Android you see a jump from just 2-percent to now 27-percent in just over a year’s time. Also worth noting, Android is beginning to see adoption more quickly than any other mobile OS. According to the Nielsen report, 43-percent of smartphone purchases are Android-based. 2010 was an amazing year for the Android platform, and with all of the impressive devices to launch this year, along with the huge 4G push, we expect to Android completely dominate the market here soon. ) |
Your Entire Music Library in the Cloud, Streamed to your Android Device, Announced Tomorrow Posted: 01 Feb 2011 09:13 AM PST What do you think of that? Sound reasonable to you? Tomorrow there’s going to be a mainly Android Honeycomb-based event hosted by Google, (and we’re gonna be there,) and inside sources are saying that included in this event is going to be an announcement that Google’s Android Market’s music library is now open for browsing and purchasing. The iTunes killer. Maybe not, but if anyone could do it, Google could. In addition to this, instant downloads Over The Air to your Android device, both for apps and for music.
Sources speaking with Android and Me that’ve apparently provided accurate info on Sprint in the past is now confirming the idea that tomorrow’s announcements will include a web-based Android Marketplace “on par with that of the Apple App Store or even better.” Along these lines also is a keynote speech by Vic Gundorta at 2010′s Google I/O conference in which he shows this online Android Marketplace, the ability to hit download to have it sent directly to your Android handheld device, and the music market. In this speech he notes that they’ve joined forces with Simplified Media and not only will be introducing music downloads directly to your phone, but your entire music library (of non-DRM music) in the cloud, able to be played from any of your Android devices. Take a look at a video of the segment where Gundorta mentions music here: Think this is part of the event tomorrow? Stick with us as we reveal all of Google and Androids 3.0 secrets and beyond as we’ll be right there live at the event sending you everything we’ve got. Be there! ) |
LG Readying NFC For the European Market, Launching 2012 Posted: 01 Feb 2011 08:58 AM PST NFC is expected to grow exponentially over the next few years. Already popular in Japan, the technology is readying itself for mainstream adoption as companies such as Google and Apple are preparing to bring the technology to the customers. LG is currently working on this technology and stated that they will be ready for launch in 2012 to the European market. In an interview with Reuters Jin-Yong Kim, vice president for business solutions at LG’s Home Entertainment division, stated LG’s current plans on progress on the maturing technology:
Analysts at Frost and Sullivan expect 800 million NFC-enabled mobile phones in use by 2015 and it will be the most-used form of mobile payment. With Google’s focus on the technology and promising support in upcoming operating systems, we can expect to see NFC-adoption grow significantly in markets other than Japan. [Via Reuters] ) |
HTC Inspire 4G due at AT&T Feb 13 priced at $100 Posted: 01 Feb 2011 07:53 AM PST AT&T has announced that the HTC Inspire 4G will go on sale in the US come February 13 2011, with the price dipping under the all-important $100 mark. The Android 2.2 smartphone will cost $99.99 with a new, two year agreement, and be able to use AT&T’s HSPA+ network. There’s also an 8-megapixel camera, HD video capture and HTC Sense, and if you stump up for AT&T’s DataPro Tethering Plan you can also use the carrier’s Mobile Hotspot app too. According to the press release, the AT&T HTC Inspire 4G will be the first of more than 20 4G devices set to launch in 2011. [via SlashGear] Press Release: ) |
Galaxy Tab sales “smooth” not “small” insists Samsung Posted: 01 Feb 2011 07:08 AM PST Samsung has challenged reports that Galaxy Tab sales have been “quite small”, despite being the source of those very rumors. According to the company, a misheard executive during the recent financial results call led to reports of Galaxy Tab sales being “quite small” rather than, as Samsung claims was intended, “quite smooth.” The company has snipped out the relevant part of the call and you can hear it in the video below. Meanwhile, Samsung is yet to comment on a report today that claimed Galaxy Tab returns rates reached as high as 16-percent in the US post-holidays. [via SlashGear] ) |
Linux Foundation offers Android dev courses Posted: 01 Feb 2011 06:01 AM PST If you really like Android and would like to make a career out of developing software for the platform, The Linux Foundation has announced that it is teaching new courses in Android development. Courses are also offered in MeeGo development as well.
The Foundation started to offer the courses in the two platforms because they “represent two of the leading platforms in this market” and the goal is to train developers to fill open spots in the market. The courses include lessons in corporate, custom, compliance, and will be offered via virtual and in-person training. They have been built in collaboration with the Linux Foundation Technical Advisory Board. Discussing the announcement, Linux Foundation Executive Director Jim Zemlin said, “We continue to see unprecedented demand for Linux expertise from our members and the industry at large”, adding that, “We’re happy to be able to offer Android and MeeGo developer training to equip professionals with the best skills to further their careers and to accelerate development efforts of Linux in the mobile computing market.” Via H-online ) |
Honeycomb for NOOKcolor ROM released [Update: Video!] Posted: 01 Feb 2011 05:54 AM PST You’ve seen Honeycomb running on the NOOKcolor in photos and on video; now you can try it yourself. xda-developers has released a Honeycomb ROM for the Barnes & Noble ereader tablet, based on the official Google emulator and various other sources. So far, graphics acceleration, wireless, the touchscreen, buttons and accelerometer all work, but sound and DSP (including hardware video decoding) are still works-in-progress. Nonetheless, this is a handy way to get a jump on Google’s official Honeycomb reveal tomorrow if you’ve got a NOOKcolor to hand; if you haven’t, head over to our Honeycomb deep dive instead. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!] Update: Our old friend Steve Troughton-Smith has put together a walkthrough video: |
Aussie develops software that connects phones directly without a mobile carrier Posted: 01 Feb 2011 05:51 AM PST A researcher from Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia has developed a new technology that uses software giving Android smartphones the ability to directly connect to each other without needing a mobile carrier. The software is apparently for emergencies where the normal infrastructure is down, such as in some areas where flooding has been bad in Australia.
The invention has two components with one of the components being a temporary, self-organizing network that is also self-powered with towers dropped by air. The second feature is a permanent mesh network that allows WiFi enabled mobile phones to communicate directly. It sounds like this differs from normal VoIP in that not only do you not need a mobile carrier, but the direct connection means you don’t have to be near a WiFi network either. It sounds a bit like VoIP for WiFi Direct to me. “Phones running our software relay calls between themselves,” said Gardner-Stephen in a university news release. “If even just one of those can see a cell tower, then calls can be with any of the phones, thus sustaining communications in affected areas. A balloon is not necessary; a phone running our software at any vantage point can suffice.” Via Information Week ) |
Motorola XOOM gets football flaunt as Chad Ochocinco shows off slate Posted: 01 Feb 2011 04:50 AM PST NFL player Chad Ochocinco has been given early access to a Motorola XOOM tablet, taking to Twitter to say how pleased he is with the 10-inch slate. “I just received the new Motorola Xoom Tablet and its pretty awesome,” Ochocinco told his 1.6m+ followers, going on to warn Motorola that “you won’t be getting this back!!!!” Seeding early units to high-profile users seems a sensible sales strategy for Motorola, especially given talk of the XOOM going on sale as early as this month. [via Out of the Office] ) |
Galaxy Tab returns sky-high say analysts: Froyo to blame? Posted: 01 Feb 2011 04:45 AM PST The Galaxy Tab sales situation goes from bad to worse as, only moments after Samsung was forced to admit that its much-lauded sales figures were in fact merely shipments to retailers and carriers, analysts suggest returns rates for the 7-inch slate have been surprisingly high. ITG crunched the numbers across 6,000 US retail locations and discovered that, between the November launch of the Galaxy Tab and January 15, 15-percent were returned. In the run up to the holiday period, the number was a little closer – at around 13-percent – but in the period after it rose to 16-percent, likely as unwanted gifts were returned. In comparison, ITG suggests, Verizon has been seeing just 2-percent returns on Apple’s iPad since it began selling the larger iOS slate. ITG blames Android 2.2 Froyo as unsuited to tablet-scale use, despite Samsung’s attempts to customize the platform with its own apps. Google will attempt to change its fortune in the tablet space later this week, with a Honeycomb launch event; for more on what that will bring to the table, check out our deep dive into Android 3.0. [via SlashGear] ) |
Cowon D3 Android MP3 player hits pre-order Posted: 01 Feb 2011 03:27 AM PST Android fans looking for a new MP3 player with a nice big touchscreen and the Android OS onboard will want to check out the new Cowon D3 that has just landed for pre-order in the UK. The player looks more like a smartphone than an MP3 player to me and has a big 3.7-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 800 x 480.
The device supports 1080p video playback, has a bunch of presets, WiFi, T-DMB, FM tuner, the ability to record FM radio, and a microSD card slot. The player has an integrated speaker to share the tunes with pals and the device has Bluetooth for wireless streaming and more. Having Android onboard and that big AMOLED screen means that when you are near a WiFi connection you will be able to surf the web just as you do on a smartphone. The player also has a Gsensor that orients the screen to the direction you are holding the device. The D3 has 32GB of storage and sells for £279.00. The device is set to ship around February 15. ) |
Sony Ericsson XPERIA update released: Multitouch for X10, ANT+ for X8 Posted: 01 Feb 2011 03:26 AM PST Sony Ericsson has begun pushing out its promised update for the XPERIA X10 and XPERIA X8, adding pinch-zoom multitouch to the larger handset and enabling ANT+ support for the smaller. The long-awaited multitouch addition to the X10 will work in both the browser and Google Maps; Sony Ericsson is hoping feature tweaks like these will salve the pain of never getting an Android OS update beyond 2.1. There’s also some on-device video editing support and more languages; the full list of changes is below. The X10 and X8 update can be installed manually, via USB, or Sony Ericsson say that most markets will have an OTA option as well.
[via SmartDroid] ) |
Samsung Galaxy S2 teaser stars an FX blooper [Video] Posted: 01 Feb 2011 12:52 AM PST Samsung knows you like to get teased, and so they’ve a brief teaser commercial for the Samsung Galaxy S2 to whet your appetite ahead of MWC 2011. The video suggests that there are 10m secrets in the world, and that Samsung’s new smartphone is the ideal way to share them. Unfortunately, as Engadget spotted, Samsung has also let slip a secret of its own, thanks to a lapse in quality control in the video effects. One scene fails to flash out the device’s reflection (as you can see above); question is, has Samsung actually used a real Galaxy S2, or are the models all just handling generic devices? [via Geekword] ) |
LG Optimus 3D official: 3D display & camera, coming to MWC 2011 Posted: 01 Feb 2011 12:39 AM PST LG has presumably realised that, with their 3D smartphone secret out of the bag, they may as well cash in prior to the LG Optimus 3D’s official reveal at Mobile World Congress later this month. The company has pushed out a short press release confirming the Optimus 3D, along with a dual-lens 3D camera, HDMI and DLNA support. The display – which is believed to be 4.3-inches – is a glasses-free one, naturally; having to slap on a pair of 3D specs would slow things down somewhat. All the details – and our own hands-on feedback – at MWC very soon. Press Release: ) |
Notion Ink Adam Blotchy Pixel Qi Screen and Defective Camera Shown Off by Rambler Posted: 31 Jan 2011 08:58 PM PST If you’re following along with this Notion Ink Adam saga, you’ll know the name Rambler. This fellow also goes by the name Rambler358 and is a pre-order purchaser of the Adam Android tablet. Take a peek back at the original post where we mentioned Rambler’s story, then take a look at the video below where he displays his problems in a nicely shot video.
Rambler notes this video is: “Just a short video to show the blotchiness issue I have with my Adam’s Pixel Qi screen, as well as the defective camera.” As far as we know he’s already in negotiations with Notion Ink to get a full refund on his Adam tablet, but it’s nice to see video of the problems he’s got going on so that others can look for the same inconsistencies in their own tablet. Thanks for the note, Rambler! ) |
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