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- More than 50% of smartphones sold in Asia run Android
- Galaxy Nexus ringtones and notifications leaked – download them now
- T-Mobile Galaxy S II gets the root treatment
- Ice Cream Sandwich includes game controller support
- Samsung Galaxy Nexus 4G LTE officially headed to Verizon “later this year”
- Samsung Galaxy W (T-Mobile Exhibit 4G II) gets a video demo
- HTC looking over Ice Cream Sandwich to determine upgrade plan
- Sony aims to bring the Playstation Suite to Non-Sony Android devices
- Samsung Stratosphere hands on [Video]
- Ice Cream Sandwich SDK port running on the Nexus One [Video]
- SHADOWGUN by MadFinger Games coming October 26th for just $4.99
More than 50% of smartphones sold in Asia run Android Posted: 21 Oct 2011 11:19 PM PDT Now Google and Samsung’s decision to move the Galaxy Nexus event to Hong Kong makes more sense. A new report from ABI research states that a whopping 52% of the smartphones in Asia are running Android. That’s a considerable lead on the United States, where Android currently commands 43% of the smartphone market.
The growth of Android in Asia is especially dramatic in Asia, where the operating system has gained 36% market share in just one year. Of course, much of Asia is still considered an emerging market, which is why only 27% of mobile phones sold there qualify as smartphones, as opposed to 40% in the U.S. We know that Android is big in China, and a big part of that is its open-source nature, allowing small and large manufacturers alike to create Android phones without paying a licensing fee. It probably doesn’t hurt that the two largest manufacturers of Android phones, Samsung and HTC, are based in South Korea and Taiwan, respectively. In the next few years Asia will become an even more important part of the smartphone market, and the tech world in general. Analysts currently predict smartphone market share to double in the next five years, and if Android maintains its current success, it’ll be a pretty one-sided one at that. With Samsung, HTC and regional players like Pantech creating phones at every price level, it’ll be a bitter fight to see who can create and sell Android phones the fastest in the territory.Android is also making great strides in tablets and other form factors, such as the traditionally popular personal translator clamshell. ) |
Galaxy Nexus ringtones and notifications leaked – download them now Posted: 21 Oct 2011 10:48 PM PDT Ice Cream Sandwich themes are pooing up all over the place, but for some truly authentic fake Ice Cream, you’ve got to get the audio experience as well. Luckily a kind soul who is likely waiting just as patiently as the rest of us for Ice Cream Sandwich (that is to say, not patiently at all) has posted the audio files from the Galaxy Nexus online for everyone. You can download the ZIP file here.
Combine the audio files with the new Galaxy Nexus wallpapers leaked a while back, and top it with the unofficial Ice Cream Sandwich third-party launcher, and you might be able to fool yourself into thinking that you own a genuine Ice Cream Sandwich phone. If you squint a little. And you’re drunk. But Android’s all about customization, so who are we to judge. If you’re ready to take the plunge and install a real version of Ice Cream Sandwich on your phone, ports of the SDK files are showing up for the Nexus One and Nexus S. SDK ports aren’t especially stable, but they should allow you to get a decent feel for Android 4.0, and they’re the best we’re likely to get before Google releases the Ice Cream Sandwich source code, currently set for sometime before the end of the year. We live in hope. Check out our hands-on looks at the Galaxy Nexus and Ice Cream Sandwich below: Galaxy Nexus Hands-on Ice Cream Sandwich Hands-on [via Phandroid] ) |
T-Mobile Galaxy S II gets the root treatment Posted: 21 Oct 2011 06:16 PM PDT Another one bites the dust. Just over a week after Samsung’s Galaxy S II debuted on T-Mobile, the tireless denizens of RootzWiki have delivered a root method for the lust-worthy phone. You can head over to the Galaxy S II Developer forum to download and apply it for yourself. Rooted Android – it’s the only way to fly!
As far as Samsung root methods go, this one’s pretty typical. You’ll need Samsung’s Kies software and a custom tool called ODIN, then you use some recovery and Windows command line magic to make it happen. The process shouldn’t daunt any advanced Android users, but those of you who are used to one-click methods might want to hold off. As a bonus, you’ll first install the flexible ClockworkMod recovery system, paving the way for oodles of custom ROMs down the line. It goes without saying that moments after you Google “root” on your phone your warranty is void, so if you’re harboring doubts about diving into the darker side of Android, you might want to hold off. If you’re sure about rooting, it couldn’t hurt to track down a full recovery method just in case. Backups via Kies and Nandroid are good safety measures. Device Info
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Ice Cream Sandwich includes game controller support Posted: 21 Oct 2011 05:48 PM PDT Google just made the classic console emulator crowd very, very happy. While digging around in the recently-released Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich SDK, some industrious developers discovered support for direct input game controllers via USB. That means your next Android smartphone or tablet (or even your current one, given a timely update) might be able to support PC or Xbox 360 controllers for your favorite games.
Android has included support for basic Human Input Devices like mice and keyboards since Froyo, but game controllers are something of an electronic oddity, and require some special attention. Not that it hasn’t been done before: one of the earliest widespread “hacks” for Android was connecting the friendly Wii Remote via Bluetooth, and with the aid of a special app, controlling popular emulators like Gameboid. In recent months PS3 and Xbox 360 controllers have found themselves in Android clutches, though in both cases, not without considerable effort and creativity. With official support, the downright annoying world of touchscreen controls (at least in the opinion of yours truly) might give way to more robust gaming. There’s only so many simultaneous moves and functions you can program in for a multi-touch screen, but if you’ve played a game like Batman: Arkham Asylum, you know the control with umpteen buttons, triggers and sticks is night limitless. Sony’s official gaming support is possibly making the jump to other hardware soon, not to mention next-generation games like SHADOWGUN, so the news is very exciting indeed. With new advances like 720p screens and Nvidia’s quad-core Tegra 3 on the horizon, who knows what lofty heights Android gaming might achieve in the very near future. Check out our hands-on looks at the Galaxy Nexus and Ice Cream Sandwich below: Galaxy Nexus Hands-on Ice Cream Sandwich Hands-on Device Info
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[via Phandroid] ) |
Samsung Galaxy Nexus 4G LTE officially headed to Verizon “later this year” Posted: 21 Oct 2011 03:20 PM PDT This comes as no surprise and everyone should have already expected this was coming but today Verizon has just released the official press release announcing the new Galaxy Nexus by Samsung headed to Verizon with 4G LTE and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. No specific date was given, but instead was slated as coming later this year.
We already had zero doubt that this was coming but now that Verizon has made it official a few users should be able to relax and wait for an official launch date announcement, which should be coming soon. We recently saw the Galaxy Nexus product page list 7 carriers though we still aren’t sure who all is on board to get the flagship device. We’ve already seen the Galaxy Nexus sporting the Verizon 4G LTE symbol out in the wild and most likely that was the model used during the Samsung Google event last week. Who’s ready for some Ice Cream Sandwich and 4G LTE? Wednesday Samsung themselves confirmed Verizon would get the exclusive with other carriers following soon, so for now we’ll just have to wait and see how things play out. For those looking for basically anything and everything about the next hero phone from Google I have two things for you — our Galaxy Nexus Portal and Ice Cream Sandwich Portal. We also have plenty of hands-on with the beautiful 4.65″ Super AMOLED smartphone powered by that 1.2 GHz dual-core processor and Ice Cream Sandwich so check those both out below. Ice Cream Sandwich hands-on Galaxy Nexus hands-on Verizon has only announced everything we already knew about the Galaxy Nexus which is basically the hardware specifications and that it will be the first 4G LTE device powered by Android 4.0 ICS. No specifics regarding the “slightly” thicker version with LTE that was mentioned by Samsung, nor when we will actually see it hit the streets. They also didn’t give us any indication on a price and we are still in the dark. So basically this announcement is just a tease to let everyone know it is coming, and soon. Remember, latest leaks suggest the Galaxy Nexus will launch on November 10th for $299 so be ready and start saving those pennies guys (and gals). Device Info
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Samsung Galaxy W (T-Mobile Exhibit 4G II) gets a video demo Posted: 21 Oct 2011 02:30 PM PDT The Samsung Galaxy W is roaring its head up late this week with a new video demo showing off some of its powers and game capabilities and we have all the goodies below for you to enjoy. The Galaxy W was unveiled back in August on video and now we have another demo to check out everything the new Galaxy W has to offer. We recently learned the Galaxy W will be headed to T-Mobile as the Exhibit 4G II.
Replacing the original Exhibit 4G the Galaxy W features a 3.7″ AMOLED display, Android 2.3 Gingerbread, run on T-Mobiles latest HSPA+ 42 network and be powered with a 1.4 GHz single-core processor and 1GB of RAM. Then rounded off with a 5 megapixel shooter on the rear and 1.3 MP on the front for video chatting. The demo below doesn’t show us anything new and is sporting the old Android market but check it out Galaxy W Demo In the video demo above it seems to still be sporting the dedicated home button that Samsung Galaxy phones are famous for having, but getting replaced by capacitive buttons here in the states. Latest reports suggests the Samsung Galaxy W (aka T-Mobile Exhibit 4G II) should be hitting T-Mobile as soon as November 2nd if leaks are accurate, for just $99 and a new 2 year contract. That is a pretty high end single-core phone for only $99 dollars, consider me sold. Device Info
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HTC looking over Ice Cream Sandwich to determine upgrade plan Posted: 21 Oct 2011 01:45 PM PDT Just like most manufacturers probably are doing, HTC is looking over Ice Cream Sandwich as we speak and are trying to device and determine their upgrade plans. We can expect many of their newer device will most likely receive Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, otherwise many users will be angry and they don’t want to relive the Desire Gingerbread debacle.
Like mentioned above most devices that are fairly new should receive an update to Ice Cream Sandwich — although a few HTC Thunderbolt users waiting for Gingerbread might have a thing or two to say about that. Today HTC has updated everyone officially on their Facebook page and had this to say:
We didn’t expect to hear any sort of confirmation on any devices, or where they’re headed with the HTC Sense UI they are widely known for, but most likely we’ll still see it on ICS. With a user interface as gorgeous as Android 4.0 I don’t know why you’d want to skin it up with a different look, but HTC most likely feels different on this front. I have a feeling the Sense UI will need some serious re-working to be compatible with Ice Cream Sandwich so we’ll all just have to wait and see. We will be sure to update when we hear any additional details from HTC. In case you missed it, here’s our hands-on coverage and video of the Galaxy Nexus and Ice Cream Sandwich so you know what to expect. Ice Cream Sandwich hands-on Galaxy Nexus hands-on [via HTC Facebook] ) |
Sony aims to bring the Playstation Suite to Non-Sony Android devices Posted: 21 Oct 2011 01:24 PM PDT Sony and their popular Playstation Suite is currently only available for a few Sony devices, which makes total sense. When first announced Sony did mention they planned to eventually bring it to other devices in the near future. Now according to sources at the AsiaD conference this week Sony’s been talking about just that. While no specific details were given, they do plan to offer the Playstation Suite to non-Sony devices in the future.
The Playstation Store just launched for their Tablet S as well as the new Sony Music Unlimited so things are starting to finally come together over in Sony’s Android camp. Being able to play games like Crash Bandicoot or Jet Moto on other Android devices sure would be neat though right? I was able to enjoy Crash Bandicoot during my hands-on with the Tablet S. While the SDK won’t be available until at least next month, SCE Chairman Kaz Hirai told Engadget at AsiaD that its Android-friendly framework is still open to all other manufacturers. Kaz did go on to mention they don’t plan to keep it exclusively in the Sony family and that Sony is currently “in discussions with non-Sony companies to bring them onboard.” No specific details or timeframe was given but they mention we’ll all hear about it once something becomes official. For now we’ll have to wait a little longer before we get to play games like Final Fantasy natively on our Android tablets. ) |
Samsung Stratosphere hands on [Video] Posted: 21 Oct 2011 01:05 PM PDT The Samsung Stratosphere is the latest 4G phone from Verizon, and to the delight of certain parts of the Android world, it’s also a full QWERTY slider. The mid-range device is based on the last generation of Galaxy S phone, and as far as feel and dimensions go, it’s got a lot in common with its cousin the Epic 4G. It’s launching at a relatively cheap $149.99 – a song for an true LTE slider phone. Our initial impressions follow.
Like most sliders, the Stratosphere feels a little chunky in the hand. It’s not the thickest phone we’ve ever seen at 14mm, but it’s noticeably larger than the Motorola DROID 3 with the same screen size and form factor. It’s also lighter, which makes for a less cumbersome ride in your pocket. The textured plastic back sticks to your hand nicely, and the extra girth means that there’s no dramatic “Galaxy hump” on the back, making the phone lie flat on a table or dash. The keyboard has its ups and downs. A full five rows means you don’t have to use modifier keys for number entry, which is convenient. But it means that the keys themselves are extremely narrow, and my (admittedly pudgy) fingers would easily strike the key above or below the one I wanted. After a few minutes I fount myself angling my fingernail uncomfortably for more precision. If you’ve ever played with any of the original Galaxy S models, you know what to expect from the Stratosphere’s sliding AMOLED screen. It’s 800 x 480 screen isn’t the sharpest around now that 960 x 540 screens (and soon enough, full 720p screens as well) are out there, but it’s vivid and easy to read. The display will serve for all but the most demanding of phone users. And for this price, it’s hard to beat. a 5 megapixel rear camera and 1.3 front camera are standard, but 720p video recording is a nice addition. TouchWiz has aged surprisingly well as it makes the shift to Gingerbread. Little touches like a power control bar integrated into the notification tray and a quick settings menu are nice enough to forget my preference for unhindered Android. The Gingerbread phone is responsive, thanks to a 1GHz single-processor. I only wish that fewer included apps came – if I wanted Blockbuster, NFL Mobile or Need For Speed, I’d download them from the Android Market. The Stratosphere’s large 1800 mAh battery should help it power through a full workday, even if you spend some time on 4G. On that note, you can see that the Stratosphere is Verizon’s first LTE smartphone to use the new Micro-SIM standard. 4GB of internal storage isn’t great, but an included 4GB MicroSD card should fill it out, and you can easily find a cheap upgrade. We’ll have a full review of the Samsung Stratosphere in the next few days. Until then, check out our hands-on unboxing video below.
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Ice Cream Sandwich SDK port running on the Nexus One [Video] Posted: 21 Oct 2011 12:54 PM PDT When Google finally releases the SDK for any Android version the ports usually follow very quickly. Just like we assumed, we are already starting to see some Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich ports hitting devices. We spotted a few yesterday and this afternoon we have a video demo of Android 4.0 running on the famous Google Nexus One. Being a port hacked together from the Android 4.0 SDK available now, it has a few bugs but so far looks very promising and I might have to dust off my old Nexi and give it a try.
Like most SDK ports, especially at first, things aren’t perfect and it is a work in progress. The developer mentions in the video that Wi-Fi doesn’t work, audio has some issues and stutters occasionally, video decoding isn’t working and the entire ROM is a bit unstable. While this was expected at first, it’s nice to see things already looking up for the Nexus One. The Nexus One might be a bit old and outdated but it still receives plenty of love from the entire development community, including Google. There are tons of developers out there that still love the Nexus One and update ROMs on the daily for it, so it’s no surprise that it will be one of the first phones running on the latest 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich SDK. Until the actual source for 4.0 is released, SDK ROM’s like the one shown above will have to do. They can get quite stable and many users run them for their daily devices but I’d rather wait for AOSP ROM’s like CyanogenMod myself. Either way this looks good, well done dr1337md! In case you want to see Ice Cream Sandwich running on the latest from Google here is our hands-on video below. Ice Cream Sandwich on the Galaxy Nexus Device Info
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SHADOWGUN by MadFinger Games coming October 26th for just $4.99 Posted: 21 Oct 2011 11:52 AM PDT If you haven’t seen this game you’ll want to keep reading and check out our full review and video below. ShadowGun by the popular developers MadFinger Games have just announced the game will officially be available for Android next week on October 26th. ShadowGun for now, will be a NVIDIA Tegra 2 device exclusive on Android and available in the Tegra Zone, with a regular version coming soon. I’ve played this awesome 3rd person shooter on my tablet and can say with confidence this is one amazing game for a mobile device.
We’ve known about this awesome game for a while and it was demoed at E3 but thanks to the awesome guys at NVIDIA we have already been able to take an in-depth look at this next-gen shooter for Android. For tons of screenshots showing the stunning graphics and special effects in ShadowGun see my full review by clicking here, then enjoy my hands-on video below. SHADOWGUN hands-on gameplay demo video Shadowgun features: – Immersive visual presentation, never seen before on mobile devices Basically for those sick of playing the cute Angry Birds and want to partake in some run and gun mayhem — this is the game for you! SHADOWGUN is about as close as you’ll be getting to Gears of War on a mobile device and the power of the NVIDIA Tegra 2 makes the THD version of Shadowgun just that much better. The graphics truly are amazing. Pair that with well over 6 hours of gameplay all for just $4.99 this is a no brainer. Again, SHADOWGUN by MadFinger games will be available next Wednesday, October 26th for just $4.99 in the Android Market and at the NVIDIA Tegrazone.com. Get the Tegra Zone app by clicking here to see all the latest THD games. ) |
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