Android Community |
- Samsung Galaxy S II Review [T-Mobile]
- LG’s dual-screen Doubleplay / Flip II leaks in new promo shots
- AT&T’s 4G LTE plan: what you need to know
- Final Google TV add-on is ready for Android SDK
- All out of gum: Duke Nukem 3D gets an official Android port
- Motorola and Verizon push out DROID X2 OTA maintenance update
- Android Market avaiable in China once again
- Mugen Power battery crams 237% more power into Mytouch 4G Slide
- Samsung makes changes to Galaxy smartphones to get around Dutch ban
- Google ADK DIY project shows music beta song meta data
- Samsung steals some iPhone 4S thunder down under
- Motorola’s new universal Lapdock 100 plays nice with all Webtop phones
- Samsung Galaxy S II vs iPhone 4S browser comparison and load times [Video Updated]
- HTC Jetstream review via SlashGear
- A chocolate Android phone that won’t melt in your pocket
- Dell will not upgrade T-Mobile Streak 7 4G to Honeycomb
- Motorola Spyder (RAZR) pictured in the wild along with the Xoom 2
- Archos 80 G9 tablet rooted, still a work in progress
- LG myTouch and myTouch Q spotted in the wild
- Marvel Comics comes to Android, makes buying Comic Books a breeze
| Samsung Galaxy S II Review [T-Mobile] Posted: 12 Oct 2011 11:06 AM PDT Today on the chopping block we have the brand new Samsung Galaxy S II headed to T-Mobile. Just like its twin brothers it has an amazing design that is thin and lightweight, but we also have a different, faster 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and a huge 4.52″ Super AMOLED display here. We all know plenty about the amazing Galaxy S II superphone already but I’ll be comparing it to the new Amaze 4G also on T-Mobile and running a few benchmarks, for now I’ll just jump right into the pictures and video for everyone to enjoy.
Before we get started feel free to check out our hands-on and unboxing coverage of the T-Mobile Galaxy S II, I’ll be calling it the SGSII for short to make things easier. Here is the hands-on video below and then we’ll get into the hardware. Samsung Galaxy S II hands-on and unboxing Hardware The hardware should come as no surprise to anyone, we went over it in detail when first announced and you can find more details on that here. We have a 4.52″ Super AMOLED Plus display with a 800 x 480 resolution, a boosted 1.5 GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor, 1GB of internal RAM, 16GB storage, optional micro-SD support (works with 64GB MicroSDXC cards) then the usual array of sensors we’ve come to expect. With a 8MP camera on the rear capable of amazing 1080p video capture and an impressive 2MP front facing camera for video chat. The T-Mobile version is barely thicker than a pencil, coming in just a hair wider than the thinnest smartphone on the planet — the original Galaxy S II. It also comes packing a huge 1850 mAh battery to help out the battery life now we have a huge display and fast processor.
Samsung has opted to go with a very simple and elegant design with the Galaxy S II line. We have no funky colors, no odd buttons with weird shapes, just a very simple yet elegant design. I actually really like the simplicity as they’ve not overdone it (Photon 4G anyone). Wrapped around the exterior and face of the entire SGSII we have an aluminum bezel that isn’t too shiny to stay along the lines of the simplistic design. Up top we have nothing more than the noise cancellation pinhole and the 3.5mm headphone jack. Down the right edge you’ll find the power wake/standy button in a nice and easy to find location, while not being obtrusive and constantly in the way. Down to the underside we have nothing but the micro-USB port for charging and syncing and the microphone pinhole. Then just as we mentioned, things are very simple and the left edge has the same sleek design with a single unmarked yet clear volume up/down rocker and that is it folks. Very elegant, very sleek, while also being lightweight and not looking cheap.
      Then obviously around back we have that beastly 8 megapixel camera, LED flash, and the speaker grill but we’ll talk about the camera more below.
Software We have Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread along with the new Samsung Touch Wiz UX 4.0 for the software and user interface and everything is extremely familiar. If you’ve used Android in the past there should be no surprises here other than a few enhancements from Samsung. The fact they’ve left Gingerbread basically unchanged in terms of look and design and only added a few colors and improvements here and there is something I really like, not going over the top like Motorola has recently gives them bonus points in my book. Samsung has introduced something called “Motion Control” now when you want to move icons on the homepage instead of holding near the edge of display and hoping it moves, or trying to manually go from screen 1 to 4 with an icon we now can simple control all of this by tilting the phone. Hold down the icon and the motion system kicks in and you just tilt — it is very, very easy and simple and while not a big deal, it’s one of those little touches that makes Samsung just that much better.
This same method works for zooming and panning pictures, as well as while zooming and browsing the web, it’s really neat and I’ve enjoyed it thus far, although it’s no game changer. As far as bloatware Samsung has been kind enough to keep things simple. T-Mobile, however, didn’t give us the same luxury and we have plenty of bloatware although I’ve seen worse. The best pre-installed bloatware is Netflix and I’d hardly consider that a bad thing. We do happen to have plenty of useless things like 411 & More (because T-Mobile apparently hasn’t heard of Googling everything like I do), Allshare, Asphalt 6, Blio e-reader, Bonus Apps, Lookout security and more. Then tons of T-Mobile specific apps like My account, My Device, More for Me, My ID, T-Mobile TV, Telenav, Qik video chat, and last but not least — another ereader called Zinio. The list is longer than I’d like but nothing a little root or uninstalling can’t fix. The ones I’d use the most are Netflix, slacker, and Asphalt 6 (awesome game).
We do have some pretty nice widgets and wallpapers that Samsung has loaded up and the image above is just an example of three available widgets. The world clock for someone like me having co-workers in NYC and on the east coast is something all phones should come with, although we have plenty of options for world clocks in the market. Just one more thing I don’t need to download because Samsung took care of it. Benchmarks You bet I ran a few benchmarks especially now we have this 1.5 GHz dual-core processor along for the journey. I’ve slowly realized most of our readers only seem to enjoy Quadrant these days, and many say Vellamo favors Qualcomm chipsets, I’d love to hear in the comments below what our readers would like to see as far as benchmarks other than Quadrant Advanced. So, back to the tests, the T-Mobile Galaxy S II performs right up to where we’d expect. I was able to break 3900 completely stock, yes that is the highest any stock device I’ve ever held was able to achieve. The AT&T Galaxy S II did score around 3600 give or take so while this is obviously higher, I was hoping for a little more but can’t complain with nearly 4k out of the box.
Pretty impressive right? Most runs were around 3800 every time, but I’ll take that higher score any day. Now just for some comparison I also have a screenshot of the T-Mobile Galaxy S II next to the new HTC Amaze 4G that features the same 1.5 GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor. Only difference here is the Amaze 4G has a 960 x 540 resolution display that is pushing 26% more pixels, so obviously it will be working harder. The Amaze scores around 2800 compared to the nearly 3900 of the SGSII — Just thought I’d share.
Next up I’ve ran CF Bench a few times to see our results, the original SGSII has been at the top of that chart since it was released so I was a bit excited to give this a try. According to CF Bench the 1.5 GHz T-Mobile variant is top dog and managed to reach the top of the chart, but just by a hair — You be the judge.
Once again like I stated above, I didn’t get too crazy with benchmarks as I’ve had many comments in the past discrediting Vellamo or Smartbench and all those others, but I’ll gladly run them for those interested. Like I said, feel free to comment below on what you consider “needed” in a review as far as benchmarks and I’ll be sure to include them if possible. Speedtest Part of the story with the T-Mobile SGSII is this is also one of the few new phones on T-Mo that is capable of taking full advantage of their new and improved 4G network. They’ve boosted the HSPA+ up to 42 Mbps and are claiming to be able to hang with, and beat Verizon 4G LTE in certain areas. Is that claim true or just more marketing talk? I’ve got the answer, sort of. While results obviously will vary from location and network here in Las Vegas I’m experiencing exceptional speeds on T-Mobile. I have the DROID Bionic right here, and my Galaxy S II is performing faster in network speeds almost every time. T-Mobile has really stepped up their game. I’ve achieved download speeds peaking around 13 Mbps here in Las Vegas on T-Mobile, my Bionic only gets around 11-12 at most. Then on average I’ve been experiencing 9-11 from the HSPA+ network here. Pretty impressive right? Only downside is the upload speeds seem to be lacking and Verizon still has the edge there. Check out the results below.
Camera Samsung has a stellar camera on their smartphones, they truly do, and if you don’t believe me they recently won a few awards over the 12MP Nokia and the iPhone 4 in the camera department. The Amaze 4G claims to have the best camera of any smartphone too, so T-Mobile has two solid offers in that department. So, the SGSII features an 8 megapixel camera on the rear with LED flash and 2MP on the front for video. Before I show the test pictures I wanted to mention the amazing camera software Samsung has provided. They give you plenty of options and the camera interface while may be a bit generic, offers so many choices that you’ll be sure to find the setting that is right for you.
I’ve snapped a few quick photos with the T-Mo SGSII and so far it works great. The auto focus is decently quick and the shutter speed is almost instant. I’d say it takes one of the fastest and best pictures of any smartphone, or is in the top 3. The DROID Bionic has an 8MP camera but is terrible, so well done here Samsung. Here is a few test photos below for your viewing pleasure.
    Also, since starting today both the SGSII and the HTC Amaze 4G are both available for purchase from T-Mobile we have a video comparing the 1080p video capture from both smartphones. If you are on the fence as to which dual-core powerhouse you want maybe the camera can help sway your decision if the hardware and size didn’t. This is a comparison of both the 1080p video capture and audio performance from the Amaze 4G and SGSII. Galaxy S II vs Amaze 4G: 1080p recording and audio quality Personally, the audio quality while not as loud from the SGSII it does seem clearer and easier to understand. On the flip side, the Amaze picked up audio very well and the colors seemed a little warmer and more natural but could be considered a bit bright. Either way both looked great for indoor 1080p video capture on a smartphone. What do you guys think? Battery Life Samsung has always offered pretty good battery life but from my first week or so with the Galaxy S II (on T-Mo and AT&T) they seem to be ahead of the pack. It’s not just the efficient AMOLED displays because even with screen off and on standby the SGSII seems to outlast any other phone on my desk, and I have more than a few sitting here. The T-Mobile Galaxy S II comes with a large 1850 mAh battery that manages to fit inside the thin frame of this smartphone, and battery life has been excellent. I was worried that the larger screen and faster processor might cause battery life to suffer, but that just isn’t the case. The SGSII lasted far longer than the Amaze 4G in both standby and real world tests for me. The image below, while the phones displays weren’t on and being used much, is an extremely clear indicator of the suburb battery life Samsung has here. The SGSII was even used slightly more than the Amaze 4G yet will most likely last at least twice as long, seriously.
Obviously real world results and day to day usage where the display is on constantly the results will be much different, but for those leaving their phone in a pocket or purse throughout the day this is definitely something to consider. I’m not sure what special sauce Samsung has here, but clearly HTC needs a taste. The Amaze battery is 1730 mAh vs 1850 on the SGSII but that shouldn’t make this large of a difference. I’ll be sure to report back with more battery life results but so far the SGSII is able to last all day long and has some of, if not the best battery life of any smartphone I’ve used to date. This is clearly one of the many strong points the SGSII has to offer. Wrap-Up This device is technically the furthest from the original SGSII because of the larger display (same amount of pixels sadly) and the different processor on board, other then that everything else remains the same, and that is a good thing. We have exceptional build quality while still managing to stay thin and lightweight and not feel like cheap plastic, we have amazing performance, great battery life and an overall experience most will completely enjoy.
Not only do you get one of the biggest, best, and fastest smartphones around, but Samsung recently has been committed to providing fast and quick updates in the recent past. This is a good sign moving forward and they’ve already been working closely with Google on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich so hopefully their SGSII line will be updates quickly. With T-Mobiles new HSPA+ 42 network speeds basically competing with the likes of Verizon 4G LTE this phone is as close to the full package as we are going to get. If you are in the market for a new smartphone that is fast, powerful and svelte this would be near the top of my list. Available today at T-Mobile head down to your nearest store and pick on up right now, or head to T-Mobile.com.                                  Device Info
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Dimension & Weight
Battery & Power
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 Cellular Network
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| LG’s dual-screen Doubleplay / Flip II leaks in new promo shots Posted: 12 Oct 2011 09:57 AM PDT The beautiful thing about Android is that its software flexibility allows manufacturers to try out all sorts of interesting form factors. We spotted a new one in the Flip II, which we know is headed for T-Mobile thanks to a leaked roadmap. New press shots show the phone in its dual-screen glory and sporting a new manufacturer designation, the LG Doubleplay.
Unlike the Kyocera Echo, the Doubleplay’s secondary screen is a smaller one sitting on the slide-out keyboard. From the photos it looks like it’s about 1.5 inches diagonally, with perhaps a 240 x 180 resolution (just a guess based on the 480 x 320 main display). So far we’ve only seen what look like app shortcuts on the smaller screen, flanked by a thumb-friendly split keyboard. While an Echo-style dual screen APK is certainly possible, it isn’t all that likely, as the hardware looks decidedly mid-range. If you look closely on the photo above, you can see a 5-megapixel rear camera, and the software appears to be 2.3 Gingerbread with some LG customizations. The T-Mobile branded version of the Doubleplay is called the Flip II, though that phone has a more muted color scheme. According to the latest leaked plans from the carrier, it’ll be available on November 2nd for $149.99 on a 2-year contract. The device will feature HSPA+ bands for T-Mobile’s “4G” network. Expect an official announcement soon, as other devices like the LG myTouch and myTouch Q have already had official press debuts. [via Android Guys] )
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| AT&T’s 4G LTE plan: what you need to know Posted: 12 Oct 2011 09:27 AM PDT Despite its claims to “4G” prowess, AT&T’s Long Term Evolution network only covers five cities in the United States so far, and no AT&T phones operate with LTE radios. PC Mag got a rare response to their inquiries on the full nationwide rollout, and there’s some juicy information for AT&T Android users in the pipe. The first AT&T LTE phone will be released this year, though the carrier didn’t say from which manufacturer or which operating system it would use.
Unless you live in Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Chicago or Atlanta, AT&T “4G” means HSPA+, an upgrade to existing 3G networks that’s speedy but not technically 4G. The company will only be advertising “4G LTE” in the markets that are currently receiving it, and presumably they’ll do some pre-marketing as new areas are added. Verizon already has true LTE 4G deployed in over a hundred markets, with more being added all the time. Currently AT&T places the same data caps on LTE users as it does on mobile broadband and smartphone users on 3G networks, despite the extra bandwidth. The company dodged a question about whether it would raise or remove caps as phones and markets are added to the network – you can probably take that as a polite “no.” AT&T also refused to respond with a concrete answer on whether or not they’ll be offering roaming with Verizon LTE. This seams more plausible, but as you know in the ever-contentious wireless market, there are no guarantees. AT&T is sticking to its guns with the proposed purchase of T-Mobile, despite the Justice Department’s objections. The company maintains that purchasing the smaller competitor outright will allow it to deploy more 3G and 4G spectrum efficiently, in a way that couldn’t be achieved by simply building new cell towers. It remains to be seen what AT&T will do if the merger is completely blocked. AT&T was mum on its first smartphone LTE offerings, saying only that it would be selling its first LTE phone later this year. Since iOS is right out (no hardware updates will be coming until next summer at the very least), that leaves Android, Windows Phone 7, and Blackberry in a long third. We’ve already seen at least one possibility on that front, namely the HTC Holiday/Raider. The HTC Jetstream is the first tablet to work with the AT&T LTE network. While it didn’t announce any hardware plans, AT&T claimed in a previous statement that their LTE phones would be thinner and more battery-efficient than competitors – a definite shot at the somewhat chunky and short-lived Verizon phones like the HTC Thunderbolt and Motorola DROID BIONIC. )
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| Final Google TV add-on is ready for Android SDK Posted: 12 Oct 2011 08:40 AM PDT While the loyal users of Google’s much-neglected Google TV platform wait
Google TV is technically based on Android, but until now it still required its own specialized development tools. Once the Honeycomb update rolls out, general Android apps will run on Google TV with minimal modification to their code. Some apps will work right away, while others will require a little tweaking – that’s where the add-on for the Android SDK comes in. Apps will be able to use API calls for various TV-related activities, like displaying the channel guide. At this time a full-on emulator for Google TV (like the Android emulator that’s included in the full SDK) only works on Linux, but Windows and OS X support is coming in the future. Users will be able to browse the Android Market for new apps once the Honeycomb update is pushed out, though it won’t be the same one we’re used to seeing. Google says that touchscreens will not be supported, so apps that require touchscreen interaction (i.e. 99.8% of them) won’t be displayed to Google TV users. Instead they’ll be shown only the apps that are verified to work with Google TV, either through developer tagging or Google’s direct featured apps list. There’s still no word on when Honeycomb and the Android Market will make its way to end users. )
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| All out of gum: Duke Nukem 3D gets an official Android port Posted: 12 Oct 2011 07:24 AM PDT Getting DOOM and/or Duke Nukem running on a hacked device is almost a rite of passage. While various unofficial and emulated versions of the shooter have been available for some time, Android gamers will soon be able to play an official version of the 1996 classic Duke Nukem 3D. The game will be coming to the Android Market in all its blocky, pixelated glory from developer Tapjoy.
For those of you who spent 1996 playing with Mario or Sonic, The Duke is one of gaming’s most iconic bad boys. Interest in the more venerable entries in the Duke Nukem first person shooter franchise has been rekindled lately with the long, long overdue (and unfortunately pretty unimpressive) release of Duke Nukem Forever on consoles and PC. According to many of the reviews, you’re probably better off playing the 15-year-old Duke Nukem 3D anyway. The game has been available for some time in the iOS App Store, and Tapjoy is working with MachineWorks NorthWest to port the game for Android hardware running 2.1 or above, including tablets. No release date has been finalized, but the press release mentions that the game will be available “very soon” in the Android Market. For more classic PC games headed to a handset near you, check out the recent announcement for Leisure Suit Larry. )
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| Motorola and Verizon push out DROID X2 OTA maintenance update Posted: 12 Oct 2011 07:03 AM PDT For the most part the DROID X2 is a welcome update to Motorola’s original 4.3-inch slate phone, but the Gingerbread update it received this summer is not without its issues. Users have reported iffy keyboard detection, camera issues and random shutdowns. Hopefully those problems will be gone, or at least diminished, when the latest over-the-air update is applied. It’s available now – go to the “System Updates” section of the Android settings menu to download it.
The DROID X2 was favorably reviewed back in May, with highlights including an improved 960 x 540 screen and the new dual-core processor. The phone lacks 4G LTE bands and so isn’t quite in the same class as more recent devices like the HTC Thunderbolt and Motorola DROID BIONIC, but as an original DROID X owner who lives in a 3G-only area, I can tell you it’s still a pretty solid phone. The Gingerbread update came in late July to a grateful userbase. Other fixes in the “1.3.380.MB870.Verizon.en.US” update include skipping in the included MP3 and YouTube apps, improved functionality with the official desktop dock, a more secure Mobile Hotspot app and better 720p video recording. You can head on over to Verizon’s official page to see the full list of changes. Users who don’t initiate an update manually should see an install message pop up on their phone sometime this week. )
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| Android Market avaiable in China once again Posted: 12 Oct 2011 06:38 AM PDT In the latest in a long line of infighting between the east’s greatest political power and the west’s technology supergiant, the Android Market web site and Android’s native Gmail app went silent on Sunday for most of China. The blackout seems to be over now, and access has been restored for Chinese Android users. No explanation has been given by Chinese authorities.
Chinese Android users don’t have access to an app-based Market like the rest of the world – they’re restricted to a web-based Android Market similar to Android.com. Google’s services are heavily regulated and censored in the authoritarian nation, though not for lack of trying. Hacks into Chinese dissidents’ Gmail accounts by persons unknown (wink) are common, and according to web service Great Firewall of China, the webmail service is still blocked in all of mainland China. Assuming that the outage was initiated by the Chinese government, there are some very pointed reasons why they’d restrict access to the Android Market. First of all it’s yet another vector for non-sanctioned information to get into the hands of the Chinese public. Nearly all web traffic in China is monitored and censored, and while the Chinese version of the Android Market must conform to these rules as well, there’s nothing stopping the government from simply shutting it down on a whim. Some are speculating that the outage was a political move in response to Google’s support of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, who took a “virtual trip” to South Africa with Google’s help this weekend. Relationships between Google and the Chinese government have been strained (to say the least) for the last 18 months, ever since Google announced a major hack into its servers emanating from China. Google withdrew its search service from the mainland in response to avoid their search results being censored, and now directs Chinese Internet surfers to google.com.hk, where searches are currently not being censored. While Google continues to provide service to Chinese Internet and Android users, it’s tenuous at best – there’s nothing stopping the Chinese government from literally flipping the switch on its services. )
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| Mugen Power battery crams 237% more power into Mytouch 4G Slide Posted: 12 Oct 2011 05:00 AM PDT Late last month Mugen power unveiled a new expanded capacity battery for the HTC Sensation 4G that doubled the battery life. Mugen Power is back with another extended life battery for Android fans and this time the battery is for the HTC Mytouch 4G Slide. The new extended life battery that MP offers is called the HLI-PG59100XL and it includes the battery door you need to install the battery into the smartphone.
The MP battery has 3600mAH of power inside compared to the standard Mytouch 4G Slide battery packing in 1520mAH. The company says that the battery is also CE approved. Using its battery the company claims that the moderate user will only need to recharge their phone every four days. The battery kit is going to sell for $98.95 with the battery door and free shipping. With the higher capacity battery and the new battery door the phone grows to 21.5mm thick. That extra thickness and extra weight are the only downsides. The battery will ship on October 28. )
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| Samsung makes changes to Galaxy smartphones to get around Dutch ban Posted: 12 Oct 2011 03:35 AM PDT Apple and Samsung are tied up in mortal patent combat and Apple has come out ahead in many instances in Europe and other places. Dutch courts ruled that Samsung smartphones did in fact infringe on one of Apple’s patents back in August. The violation was used to issue an injunction that kept Samsung Galaxy smartphones from being sold in the Netherlands after mid-month.
The patent that could keep the Galaxy devices out of Dutch hands had to do with a patented method of scrolling and browsing through photos held by Apple. Samsung has been fighting the injunction and appears at least in the Netherlands to be ready to capitulate to Apple to gets its devices back into the country. Samsung has announced that it will be making “upgrades” to three Galaxy smartphones. A Samsung spokesman named James Chung has declined to give a specific date that the three upgraded smartphones will hit stores in the Netherlands. He did state, “We’ve fixed the technological problem and upgraded products to address the issue. They will be shortly available for sale.” [via Reuters] )
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| Google ADK DIY project shows music beta song meta data Posted: 12 Oct 2011 03:17 AM PDT If you had, your hands on the Google ADK board a week or so ahead of its official launch what would you do? Sit and stare gleefully at your gear or get down to business by making a cool device using the board to show off how easy the Google ADK board is to use? A DIY modder going by [yergacheffe] did in fact have the Google ADK board early and set about making something cool.
The person used the ADK board along with some LED matrices and modding prowess to construct a display that can show the meta data for the songs playing via the music beta service from an Android device. The matrices were put inside a laser cut acrylic case and the music beta logo glows with LED light for extra bling. With the complete project display, people can connect their smartphone to the display and it will show info about the tracks they are listening to. The modder says that only a couple lines of code were needed to get the Google ADK board to work with the display screen. Check out the video to see the finished project in action. [via SlashGear] )
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| Samsung steals some iPhone 4S thunder down under Posted: 12 Oct 2011 02:46 AM PDT Samsung figured it would take the chance to do a little scrapping out behind the gym with Apple with the iPhone 4S set to launch in Australia this week. Samsung set up a little pop up store right next door to the big Apple Store in Sydney and then offered the very nice Samsung Galaxy S II smartphone in limited quantities for $2. Apparently, the geeks in Australia were more interested in the Android smartphone than the iPhone 4S.
According to reports, the line in front of the Samsung store is longer than the line in front of the iPhone store. I’m surprised that fights between the Android geeks and the iPhone 4S geeks didn't break out. There was a catch to the smoking good Samsung deal though. There are only ten of the Galaxy S II smartphones offered at the bargain price each day. Apparently, the Samsung store is up and running until this Friday and then it will close. You had better count the folks that are in line to be sure you need to stand around at all if you want one of the smartphones. The iPhone 4S will go on sale in Australia this Friday so the Samsung store is closing as the iPhone 4S gets ready to start selling. [via SlashGear] )
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| Motorola’s new universal Lapdock 100 plays nice with all Webtop phones Posted: 11 Oct 2011 06:45 PM PDT DROID BIONIC users were none too thrilled when they learned that the laptop dock didn’t work with the same accessory from AT&T’s Atrix. Now Motorola has removed that little wrinkle with the Lapdock 100, a universal laptop dock for all upcoming Webtop phones including the Atrix 2. Even better, it’ll be compatible with the older Motorola phones as well.
Motorola skirts the physical docking problem with a more traditional cable that plugs into the ports on the side of the phone. This makes for a less integrated unit, but the cross-device advantages should be enough to offset that in the minds of most consumers. Some phones, like the BIONIC, will need an OTA software upgrade to use the new accessory. The Lapdock 100 keeps the 10-inch screen and dedicated Android buttons from the previous docks. The manufacturer is claiming five hours of battery life for the Lapdock, and users can connect to the Internet via Wifi or cable tethering with their device. AT&T will be the first to sell the Lapdock 100 on October 17th. Other carriers with Webtop-enabled phones will follow later this year. Pricing, alas, is not available, but at least you won’t have to wait long to find out. The device keeps one of the coolest features of the original, a full desktop-style Firefox browser and screen mirroring of its connected smartphone. [via Android Central] )
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| Samsung Galaxy S II vs iPhone 4S browser comparison and load times [Video Updated] Posted: 11 Oct 2011 06:24 PM PDT The iPhone 4S is finally here and while we don’t have a 5 to compare things to, we do have the 4S to throw up against the Samsung Galaxy S II for a few browser load times and overall performance tests as I’m sure plenty are interested in seeing the results. I always told myself I’d never use the word “iPhone” in a title here at Android Community but this isn’t about me — its for you, the readers. A little friendly competition is always nice right? Because where would we all be without it — probably still using Nokia candy bar phones daily. Enough of that, check out our video below.
Now I’m not going to get too crazy here or break down all the little things about Android or iOS, iPhone 4S or Galaxy S II, instead I’ll just show you all the video by our sister site and good man Vincent from SlashGear. Your humble narrator (me) wouldn’t be caught dead with an idevice so we’ll just have to take Vincents word for it. First off he compares the iPhone 4 to the iPhone 4S in a browser test or three just for fun and to see how well the new A5 dual-core processor chugs along in the “S”, then he moves on to the good stuff — Android. The first attempt with the Galaxy S II he doesn’t hit go, so don’t get discouraged and break anything just yet, watch the entire clip. iPhone 4S vs Galaxy S II browser test Update: New video with Flash set to On Demand Galaxy S II vs iPhone 4S browser test with flash disabled I myself am not in control of the testing here, but from initial results the iPhone 4S performs quite well, I’m sure everyone expected that as the original held its own pretty well too. One of the fastest processors around currently, the 1.5 GHz Qualcomm in the Galaxy S II performs very well but is just barely by a hair beat by the new A5 dual-core iPhone 4S in most tests. I’d rather have the SGSII perform 1 second slower and have a full flash experience personally. We could argue about this all day, flash or no flash, or try other sites but when it really comes down to it iOS is highly efficient as is Android — not to mention many many websites are designed with iOS in mind. This is just one prime example that we don’t need blazing fast quad-core processors and huge 4.7″ displays to have an awesome experience. I can’t see myself browsing the web and reading websites with that puny little 3.5″ display, but that is just me. Android has came a long ways over the past few years and is growing daily. The rapid growth and development of the entire ecosystem is just one more reason to be completely excited about things to come. The iPhone 4S may slightly be faster by a tiny hair at the moment, but wait for those quad-core processors to start hitting the streets and this will be an entire different story. I know I mentioned we don’t need the quad-cores, and we still don’t, but I sure would love to have one. In the end both sides will remain extremely competitive, they will drive innovation and Samsung and Android will continue to rise and rise. Do take note that Android 2.3 Gingerbread is well over a year old, and iOS 5 was just released. Once we get the newer, bigger, better, and faster Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich powered Samsung Galaxy Nexus I’d love to run these tests again and see who’s boss (and we will). For now we’ll just have to agree that while they didn’t release a newer and bigger iPhone 5, Apple’s done a decent job with the new iPhone 4S. Apparently there is more to it than just the S so the upgrade kit I was planning to sell pictured below might not work after all.
What do you think of the video? We would love to see your comments in the appropriate section below. )
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| HTC Jetstream review via SlashGear Posted: 11 Oct 2011 05:58 PM PDT The HTC Jetstream got its fair share of ink when it was announced, but not in the way AT&T might have hoped. People have been excited to get their hands on a full-sized HTC tablet for a while now, but that $700 price and a two-year wireless data contract is a deadly combination. But enough proletariat whining: does the Jetstream deliver? SlashGear ripped open the packaging for a full review.
As expected from an HTC flagship device, the hardware is fantastic in both raw power and build quality. Big props go to the metal housing, best-in-class 8 megapixel camera with 1080p video recording, 1.5GHz dual-core CPU and a long-lasting 7300 mAh battery. The Jetsream will reportedly last for more than a full day’s use, no matter what you do with it. The first implementation of HTC’s Sense UI on a Honeycomb tablet gets a lot of praise, with the exception of the newer ring lockscreen – it’s hard to slide it with one hand on such a large device. But at the end of the day, it all comes back to that big price tag. $700 for a tablet is just too much when saddled with an expensive carrier contract, and according to the reviewer, it’ll be surprising to see this thing go through the end of the year without a significant price drop. If you’re itching for the best Honeycomb tablet out there and price is no option, the HTC Jetstream might just be fore you. If not, look to alternatives from Samsung, Acer and Asus.       Device Info
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| A chocolate Android phone that won’t melt in your pocket Posted: 11 Oct 2011 04:59 PM PDT Sharp’s upcoming Q-Pod Android phone is aimed right at the rich, delicious center of the novelty market. The golden-colored phone’s back, front and the user interface inside all look as if they’re covered in half-melted chocolate, for some reason. It even comes with its own “Chocobed”, a charging dock that looks like a fancy chocolate box.
Perhaps the most surprising thing about the Q-Pod is that it also has some pretty solid specs. Android 2.3 runs on a 1GHz Snapdragon processor (mmm, chocolate and Gingerbread!) with 512MB of RAM. Unlike its real-world sugary counterpart, the housing of the phone is water-resistant, and the 8-megapixel rear camera should satisfy the pickiest of shooters. The 3.7-inch screen has a sharp 960 x 540 resolution – considerably higher than similar screens on US and European phones. Carrier NTT DoCoMo isn’t saying how much the Q-Pod will cost, but with a limited run of 3000 units it won’t be cheap – and that’s before you buy a plane ticket to Japan to pick one up. If your heart is set on this unique device, better call you travel agent quick – the Sharp Q-Pod goes on sale October 18th. Just don’t make any calls before dinner or you’ll spoil your appetite. For more strangely themed Japanese handsets, check out the official Disney Android phone. )
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| Dell will not upgrade T-Mobile Streak 7 4G to Honeycomb Posted: 11 Oct 2011 04:23 PM PDT Well that just sucks. T-Mobile Streak 7 owners, I hope you like Froyo. While users of the unlocked 3G and WiFi variants of Dell’s Streak 7 tablet are already seeing updates to the full tablet version of Android, T-Mobile customers will be stuck on Android 2.2 if they opt to stick with official software. Dell did not give a reason for their failure to send out an over-the-air update.
Android users are more than familiar with long delays for current software, but this denial of service will sting just for T-Mobile users, who are apparently plain out of luck, while the rest of the Streak 7 userbase enjoys Android 3.2. The snub is probably because T-Mobile hasn’t sold enough of the HSPA+ tablets to warrant the development time for an update – not that that makes the people who spent the most on the hardware (after two-year wireless service contracts) any happier. A port of Honeycomb from the other Streak 7 hardware is likely if I know the good folks at XDA, but that’s not the point. It shouldn’t have been necessary for users to hack their tablets to receive functionality that’s been available in other tablets for the better part of a year already. This latest bit of news makes it more and more important to pay attention to the version of Android that’s on a device you buy – neither the manufacturer nor the carrier has any obligation to upgrade the Android software within, and unless you’re willing to throw your warranty out the window, you could be stuck. )
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| Motorola Spyder (RAZR) pictured in the wild along with the Xoom 2 Posted: 11 Oct 2011 02:50 PM PDT A few of the devices we are all expecting to see at the upcoming Motorola event next week seem to be out in the wild hanging out and soaking up the sun. The Motorola DROID RAZR (codenamed Spyder) is the new device many are really excited about from both Motorola and Verizon, and we also have some eyes on with the new Motorola Xoom 2.
Originally the Spyder was leaked as the DROID HD but now we know it in fact will have a 960 x 40 qHD display and not a HD level 1280x720p panel like originally thought. It will however be the first qHD AMOLED display so that is very exciting and I can’t wait to see more. Motorola has been busy buying up RAZR domains and most likely this will hit the market as the Motorola DROID RAZR, but that is yet to be confirmed. The RAZR is looking pretty with that carbon fiber textured rear and glossy finish, don’t you think? It will be rocking a powerful dual-core processor and Verizon 4G LTE but we already known all of that and more details are provided at the links above. Next up is the Xoom 2, looking near completion the Xoom 2 is all wrapped up and has the Motorola and Verizon branding in place and seems to be enjoying some Android 3.2 Honeycomb. This is said to be the 8.2″ model. I’m still hopefully a new Xoom will get released next month running Ice Cream Sandwich but we wont know until Google announces it. Showing that nice two-tone white and black finish with curved edges Motorola went with a unique design and I’m liking it thus far. We still don’t have any further details although its said the RAZR is running at 1.5 GHz on that TI dual-core processor but should still ship at 1.2 GHz like original leaks suggested. Hopefully we see more leaks shortly, otherwise stay tuned right here at Android Community for the Motorola event come October 18th.     [via Engadget] )
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| Archos 80 G9 tablet rooted, still a work in progress Posted: 11 Oct 2011 01:22 PM PDT The new Archos G9 series tablets haven’t been out long, but as usual the developer community is already working hard at figuring out the goods and bringing a root method for all. The popular @PaulOBrien has been hard at work with the new Archos 80 G9 Honeycomb tablet and has finally achieved root access. He does however mention that it was not an easy task and it is still a work in progress before any sort of details and instructions will be released. Progress is progress though right?
These new budget Honeycomb tablets from Archos were announced back in July and went up for pre-order late last month. For those already enjoying some Android 3.2 Honeycomb on the thin and lightweight Archos tablets the wait shouldn’t be long for full root access and the freedom we so desire. We recently received our own Archos G9 80 tablet and can see more of our hands-on coverage here. Basically the Archos 80 is a great budget tablet offering a dual-core 1.0 GHz OMAP4 processor, 8GB internal storage, the latest Android 3.2 Honeycomb and a 8″ display all for just $299. Archos isn’t know for the best hardware quality like HTC and a few others but they do offer a great deal for those on a budget. For news and updates regarding these Archos tablets feel free to check back often at Android Community as well as follow Paul over on Twitter for updates to the root process for the G9 series. Stay tuned for full instructions. [via Twitter] )
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| LG myTouch and myTouch Q spotted in the wild Posted: 11 Oct 2011 12:56 PM PDT We have seen plenty of the new myTouch and myTouch Q from LG lately and it was only a matter of time until they started leaking to the wild, and today is the day. We now have a few photos of the myTouch by LG spotted in the wild hanging out, and they aren’t even all that blurrycam style either. Officially announced last week both devices should be available on T-Mobile before the holidays, check out the pictures below.
Before becoming official these phones were accidentally listed on T-Mobile.com and were quickly removed, now they are all official-like we should be seeing plenty more over the next few weeks. The myTouch will feature a 3.8″ display with a 1 GHz processor and a decent 5MP camera. Then the myTouch Q (above) will sport a 3.5″ display, slide-out QWERTY keyboard, the same 1.0 Ghz processor and 5MP camera and will be a nice little mid-range offering from LG.
Both of the new myTouch phones will be powered by Android 2.3 Gingerbread and T-Mobiles HSPA+ 4G speeds. The regular myTouch will come in black or white, while the Q slider will be offered in black or grey. Both are set to be released before the holidays and we don’t have more information on an exact date but a recent leak suggests they’ll be available for just $129 and come around November 2nd. Who wants one? [via TmoNews] )
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| Marvel Comics comes to Android, makes buying Comic Books a breeze Posted: 11 Oct 2011 12:45 PM PDT Between Marvel Comics and DC Comics all you fans now have plenty of options here on Android. Today Marvel has dropped the official Marvel Comics app for Android and it is available right now. You get instant access to all of your favorite comics from Captain America all the way to Spiderman. The application offers a guided and animated view for reading your purchases, or the standard way of panning through pages and zooming on content. Who’s ready for The Hulk?
You can read all of your favorite comics right on the device using the two methods mentioned above. The guided animated style is quite nice and makes for a much better experience rather than just flipping through the pages. While we don’t have any sort of Honeycomb interface that would be awesome on our larger devices, the app is compatible with all Android 2.1+ and above devices.
Not only can you search and find all of your favorite comic books and read them right from any new Android device, but they also allow in app purchases of the comic book you’d like right in print shown in the image above. The interface isn’t designed for tablets but I hear it works just fine anyways so feel free to give it a try and let us know what you think. Next question is: Who’s ready for The Avengers? [via Android Market] )
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