Monday 23 January 2012

Android Community

Android Community


LG CX2 photo leaks: Next dual camera 3D smartphone for LG

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 10:59 AM PST

For those that thought the entire dual camera 3D idea for smartphones was just a fad and something that would quickly pass — maybe it wont. Apparently LG is preparing their next flagship 3D model to follow up their somewhat successful Optimus 3D. Reports are calling this smartphone the LG CX2 and we have a few press images too.

Lets start with the good details. Those are that LG has managed to make the entire device about 2mm thinner than the original. Making it just under 10mm in thickness and much skinnier then their rival — the HTC EVO 3D. The new LG CX2 will also get a boost in processor speed and rock a 1.2 GHz dual-core TI OMAP 4 series processor. Similar to the 1.0 GHz version on the original Optimus 3D. Now for the bad news — nothing else really appears to have changed.

According to leaks from PocketNow the new 3D capable smartphone will rock the same 4.3″ display although they do mention it to be LG’s NOVA technology but no details on resolution were shared. We are assuming 1280 x 800 like the recent Nitro HD and Spectrum for Verizon. The new device will still retain the 5 megapixel camera rating for both rear cameras — but the auto-stereoscopic features have supposedly been improved upon.

Next up it will still be glasses-free and come with LG’s suite of 3D catered applications and games. The last change is the new LG CX2 appears to also be rocking NFC for mobile payments, tagging, Google Wallet and all those other features that we are still waiting to fully emerge for NFC. I’m still not sold on the entire 3D in smartphones for capture — or playback — but hopefully LG can change my mind.

LG-CX2-back LG-CX2-front


Japanese carrier pushes ads to Android notification bar

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 10:26 AM PST

Raise your hand if you like ads. Anyone? Advertising is an unfortunately necessary part of modern life (and you can take that statement to the bank, since almost the entire livelihood of this humble blogger depends upon it) but sometimes the intrusive nature of new advertising methods sticks in the craw of consumers. Such is the case with Japanese wireless provider KDDI’s latest attempt at subtle marketing: they’ve begun pushing paid ads to users’ Android phones via the notification system. Advertising for apps in an alternative market started showing up on phones today, and Asiajin spotted users venting their frustrations on Twitter.

The culprit seems to be the Au One Market, one of many alternatives to the official Android Market that’s available on Asian smartphones which have not received Google’s certification. A recent update to the Au One Market included the ads for contained apps, which are pushed to the notification bar in the same manner as an email or text. (The image above is an ad for a weight loss app.) Naturally, users are somewhat upset, especially since there’s no way to remove the software from their phones  without voiding the warranty. At the time of writing, KDDI has not responded to the complaints of its customers.

At the best of times, using free Android apps is a compromise between advertising and functionality. The popular wisdom is that free apps are subsidized with ads – and indeed, a few are cheeky enough to slip them into the notification bar via the AirPush ad system – and paid apps are free of advertising. But to build un-ignorable apps into the framework of a service that most would consider essential for a modern smartphone is beyond the pale. The Au One Market does have a method for removing the ads, but it’s an opt-out option, and is built into the updated EULA in such a way that it’s far from obvious to its customers: it’s the greyed-out link just above the large “OK” button in the screenshot below.

Advertising isn’t fun, but it’s necessary. However, this level of intrusive and annoying ads are uncalled for, and more than a little insulting. We recommend that other carriers and developers around the world learn from KDDI and Au One Market, which have generously provided and excellent example on how to anger and alienate paying customers.

[via Engadget]


AT&T Sony Xperia ION 4G LTE pricing details emerge

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 10:24 AM PST

A couple of weeks ago at CES Sony finally detailed their new Xperia ION smartphone to be powered by AT&T 4G LTE. With a dual-core processor, large display and an ultra fast connection we are starting to see a glimpse of where Sony plans to take the brand now they own Ericsson’s half. New information now shares the pricing for their upcoming device.

Other than the announcement at CES and us knowing it will be released sometime in Q2 we don’t have any other details or pricing information at the moment from our friends at Sony or AT&T other than “coming soon”. According to popular online retailer Negri Electronics you can get the fully unlocked version for only $569.

That $570 will get you an impressive smartphone with a 4.6″ HD display powered by Sony’s BRAVIA engine. A 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and a huge 12 megapixel camera for 1080p video and more. Not to mention this phone has HDMI out and AT&T 4G LTE. Basically it could put the Galaxy Nexus to shame but I’ll hold off on my judgement til I get some hands-on time — although we already know the camera will be a heck of a lot better. It also appears if you take this unlocked phone outside the US you’ll get more than 2G speeds from the 2100 Mhz bands on board too.

We’ll update once we see or hear more details on the Xperia ION.

[via PocketNow]


HTC Flyer Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade tipped by customer service

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 09:51 AM PST

When the HTC Flyer launched way back in May, Android 3.0 Honeycomb was in its infancy, which made the Flyer’s smartphone OS easier to swallow. Now that the Honeycomb update is available and Ice Cream Sandwich ROMs are abundant on smartphones, many have wondered if the Flyer would get a similar icy treatment. While there’s no official word, a brief conversation between a French HTC Hub member and customer service indicates that an ICS update is scheduled for the first quarter of this year.

The story goes something like this: the caller was upset at some of the changes made by the Honeycomb upgrade. The customer service representative gave him two options: send the tablet in to HTC to be downgraded to Gingerbread, or wait for the Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade scheduled for the first quarter. I stress that this is the barest sliver of evidence that the Flyer is getting Ice Cream Sandwich: while it’s a solid 7-inch tablet, it’s surely not at the top of HTC’s list of priorities at the moment. I’d venture a guess that if the customer service rep was telling the truth, he or she may have confused the Flyer with HTC’s 10-inch tablet, the Jetstream. Just to emphasize: a mention from a customer service representative is not an official confirmation of anything. 

That said, the Flyer combines some respectable specs with HTC’s reliable hardware, and has earned itself quite a few fans since its release. Whether or not we see an official ICS update and whenever that might be, I suspect that the mod community will have more than a few Ice Cream Sandwich options available very soon. The Flyer and its wireless broadband cousin the HTC EVO View 4G can both be unlocked at the botloader level thanks to HTC’s official tool – that means it’s just a matter of time.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Flyer [WiFi Only]
    Manufactuer : HTC
    Carrier :
    Announced Date : February 15, 2011
    Release Date : May 14, 2011
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 7.00 Inch
  • Resolution : 1024x600
  • Screen Type : TFT
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 7.69 Inch
  • Width : 4.80 Inch
  • Depth : 0.52 Inch
  • Weight : 420 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 4000 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : 1470 hours
Software
    Android OS:
  • 2.3.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • 3GP
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
Hardware
    CPU : Snapdragon
    CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz
    Core : 1
    Ram : 1024 MB
    Internal Storage : 16.384 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution :5 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • 720p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
  • A2DP
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

[via AndroidAndMe]


Motorola DROID RAZR now comes in black, white and purple

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 08:56 AM PST

You can never have enough choice – at least, that’s the popular wisdom. However, in the case of Verizon’s offerings for the Motorola DROID RAZR, I might be willing to make an exception. In addition to a quasi-price drop last week, you can now order the fashion-forward phone in the standard black, chilly white or inexplicable purple. All three now start at a price of $199.99, minus the 16GB MicroSD card that was offered with the phone at launch. You can still get the extra storage in the $299 model (sadly bereft of a purple option) but considering the retail price of comparable MicroSD cards lately, you’d be well advised not to.

The price drop and variety are likely to spur interest in the original DROID RAZR before the capacious DROID RAZR MAXX comes to market, which is expected to take place on Thursday, January 26th at the earliest. The updated model keeps the 1.2Ghz dual-core processor, 16GB memory capacity and 4.3-inch AMOLED screen, but bumps the battery up to a huge 3300mAh model, giving the MAXX nearly double the runtime of the original. Impressively, this plus-sized battery is housed in a phone that’s just 8.9 mm thick, only 1.2mm thicker than the original.

While multi-colored shell options are usually the territory of “dumb” phones, there’s been a surprising number of options for android as of late, especially on Verizon. In addition to the Cee Lo-approved white DROID RAZR, the HTC DROID Incredible 2 is available in red ,and the DROID 2 was briefly offered in R2-D2 garb as a Star Wars tie-in. And who could forget the HTC Rhyme, famously debuted in purple Plum. Verizon would like us to remind our readers that the Rhyme, and presumably the purple DROID RAZR as well, is not just for the ladies.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : DROID RAZR
    Manufactuer : Motorola
    Carrier : Verizon
    Announced Date : October 18, 2011
    Release Date : November 03, 2011
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.3 Inch
  • Resolution :
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED Advanced qHD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.15 Inch
  • Width : 2.71 Inch
  • Depth : 0.27 Inch
  • Weight : 127 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1780 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : 8.9 hours
Software
    Android OS:
  • 2.3.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU : OMAP 4430
    CPU Clock Speed : 1200 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1000 MB
    Internal Storage : 16.384 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution :8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • CDMA
    CDMA Band:
  • 800
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1700
  • 1900
  • 2100
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

[via Droid-Life]


US Android users prefer Samsung, says new study

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 08:24 AM PST

Samsung’s almost literally on top of the world when it comes to mobile phone sales, and apparently that’s with good reason. Researcher iGR stated in its latest news release that among US Android buyers, Samsung was the most proffered brand, followed by Motorola and HTC. Among the top three, Samsung is the only brand with a positive outcome from the last quarter – while all are selling well, Samsung is far and away the most profitable at the moment, both in the US and abroad.

According to research from late last year, iGR estimates that 47 percent of United States smartphone owners use Android, compared to 24 percent which use an iPhone. (Note that the iPhone is now available on three out of four of the largest carriers in the country.) Among Android users, almost half researched their purchase beforehand and specifically chose an Android phone, and 27% of Android owners chose Android specifically because of its association with Google. From the study: ” …27 percent of Android users said that they selected an Android smartphone because they believed that Google was a ‘reputable company’ and therefore inferred that Android must also be reputable.”

With Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S line selling 30 million phones worldwide and an extremely wide range of price points available, Samsung seems to be winning the Android market with sheer force. HTC, LG and Motorola, the other three major Android OEMs, have product lines that are comparatively thin and spread out across multiple US carriers. Just as an example: among the Android Community writers at CES, four Samsung Galaxy Nexus and one Galaxy S II could be found, with an AT&T Galaxy S II Skyrocket as a backup. The only other Android phone brought was a Verizon LG Revolution, also a backup device. It’s fair to say that Samsung is kicking butt and taking names as far ass Android goes – but they shouldn’t be cocky. The same could be said of Motorola in the fall of 2009, and of HTC in mid 2010. Who knows who’ll end up on top as 2012 plays out.


Comodo Mobile Security now available in Android Market

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 07:55 AM PST

There’s a lot of growth in the anti-malware space for Android at the moment, and yet another well-known company is joining the fray. Comodo, maker of the well-known Comodo Firewall and other security software for Windows, has published Comodo Mobile Security  Free AV in the Android Market. The app includes a standard antivirus function and process manager, as well as call and SMS blocking and locking functions for individual apps. Surprisingly, all this functionality is included for free.

The Antivirus function uses the standard definition-based scanner system employed by most pro antivirus software for Windows, and indeed, Android. Users can initiate a manual scan and/or set the app to “always on”, monitoring incoming files for potential dangers. The Software and Process Manager is essentially a duplicate of the app manager that’s built into Android, though it does display pertinent information along with the ability to “kill” an app and free up memory. Call and text blocking as well as individual app protection using a password round out the package.

It should be noted that all of these functions can be had from other, free apps, albeit not in a contained package. The integrity of free anti-malware software on Android was damaged last year when a report showed almost all of it to be useless, but Comodo is a trusted name on the desktop side of things. The company has earned a fair shake on Android if anyone has. The reality of malware on Android is hard to ignore as user adoption grows in leaps and bounds, and like Windows before it, the antivirus sector is sure to find a growing home on the mobile platform.

[via PhonesReview]


Report: Android replacing iOS as key platform for Asian devs

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 07:30 AM PST

Android is gaining market share all over the world, as even the staunchest Apple fanboy will now admit – though they’d add that the smartphone market itself is growing so fast that both Android and iOS are making gains. One area that has so far vexed Android has been development, or at least, that part of development that’s focused on making money. According to IT research firm Ovum, that’s changing in the Asian market, where developers are shifting their focus onto Android at an alarming rate.

While most developers are still working on the iOS platform, the rapid decline of Windows Mobile, Blackberry and PalmOS/WebOS has opened up time and commitment space, which is being filled almost exclusively with Android development. That isn’t all that surprising, since Android has grabbed 52% of the smartphone market across all of Asia. Though smartphone adoption is trailing outside of Japan, South Korea and Taiwan (less than 30% of mobile phones sold in Asia are smartphones) the sheer size of the market makes it a worldwide stage for nearly every hardware and software vendor.

iOS remains much more profitable on an app-by-app basis, but the gap in both apps and income is shrinking. The Android Market is expected to meet and exceed the iOS app store in the total number of available apps later this year, and total downloads have already exceeded the 11 billion mark. Between November and January, more than 50 million Android devices were sold worldwide, bringing the total up to 250 million. Android’s growth doesn’t show signs of stopping any time soon, and the development community is taking notice.

[via Business Standard]


AT&T Pantech Element discounted $50 with Pantech Burst smartphone

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 06:59 AM PST

Like a lot of smaller Asian manufacturers, Pantech is making a big push in North America this year looking to expand its smartphone market share. If early moves with AT&T are any example, it’ll do that by leveraging tablets. Starting today, you can buy the new Pantech Element tablet and the Burst budget smartphone for $250 all together - a $50 discount on both. A new or recurring AT&T contract is required and – sigh – you’ll have to pay separately for both the tablet and smartphone data. On the plus side, both tablet and smartphone are the cheapest devices in their class to use AT&T’s fledgling 4G LTE network.

The Element is a standard 8-inch Android Honeycomb tablet with a trick up its sleeve: it’s rated as IP57 waterproof, or more accurately, splash-proof. It wouldn’t be a good idea to toss the Element in a pool or tub, but you could confidently use it while cooking or in inclement weather. Other specs include a 1.5Ghz dual-core processor, 16GB of storage and a 5 megapixel camera capable of 1080p video recording. a 4:3 screen tops out at 1024×768, but the 6400 battery should serve you well. The Burst is a typical Gingerbread smartphone with a 4-inch screen and 16GB of internal storage.

Separately the tablet and phone go for $299.99 and $49.99, respectively, and $449.99/$$399.99 without a contract. For the few that are in the market for both a cheap tablet and smartphone, the Element and Burst deal might seem appealing – but remember that you’ll have to pay for both each month. It might be more economical to get the phone and a WiFi tablet, using the savings for a more high-end model, or getting a more functional MiFi hotspot instead. For those who like the idea of a combined tablet-smartphone package, AT&T is also offering the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 LTE and Galaxy S II Skyrocket combo for $479.99.


US tablet ownership almost doubles over the holidays

Posted: 23 Jan 2012 06:26 AM PST

Tablets were the hot ticket item during the holiday season in the United States, and according to the Pew Research Center, the demand drove adoption to impressive new heights. The respected firm said today that US ownership of tablets jumped to 19% after Christmas, almost doubling the pre-December figure of 10%. The numbers  reflect adults only, but Pew also reported that e-readers had the same near 50% gain while being tabulated separately. While no specific model information was available, cheap tablets and e-readers from the competing Amazon and Barnes & Noble are thought to account for most of the increase.

Before the holidays, Android tablet adoption had grown to somewhere around 40%, again, on the backs of cheap models like the Nook Color, Nook Tablet and Kindle Fire. (The e-ink versions of the Nook, while technically slate devices running Android, are not considered “tablets” due to a limited hardware functionality.) The Nook and Fire, like most inexpensive tablets, use modified versions of Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Tablets running Honeycomb (and just lately, Ice Cream Sandwich) remain a hard sell against the Apple iPad thanks to much higher prices.

That may be changing soon enough: after the firesale of the HP TouchPad and the success of the Kindle Fire, major manufacturers are finally beginning to see the value in undercutting Apple. One of them most promising entries into this space is the Asus MeMO 370T revealed at CES, a quad-core Tegra 3 tablet with a 7-inch 720p screen. More importantly, the tablet will retail for $250 USD, matching the much less powerful Nook Tablet and coming within striking distance of the Kindle Fire. The MeMO is expected to be available in late spring or early summer.


Android Community Weekly: January 22, 2012

Posted: 22 Jan 2012 04:53 PM PST

It’s been a surprisingly busy week for Android as 2012 gets started in earnest. Much of the news from Monday and Tuesday came as the tech industry caught its collective breath, after the gadget smorgasbord that was the Consumer Electronics Show. For the best and brightest, be sure to check out or Android CES wrap up. You can see all our coverage of CES 2012, from this week and last, by visiting our CES portal. As for the rest – and that encompasses quite a lot this week – read on below.

As far as hardware goes, an encouraging number of new devices were spotted this week. The biggest (metaphorically speaking, of course) is probably LG’s X3, the likely codename for their new flagship. The rumored phone runs Ice Cream Sandwich on a 4.3-inch 720p screen. It’s very likely that we’ll be seeing more of that phone next month at Mobile World Congress. Tablet dreamers Notion Ink unveiled the second iteration of their Adam tablet, this time with upgrades in hardware and more developer tools. WiFi versions of the Motorola DROID XYBOARD are up for pre-order, and those who fancy more variety in their LTE smartphones will be happy to know that the LG Connect 4G has passed through the FCC with Verizon radio bands. While we’re certain that the much-anticipated Samsung Galaxy Note is coming to AT&T in the near future, industry rumor indicates that it will be coming to at least two more US carriers, and that the Verizon version will likely be renamed the “Galaxy Journal.” Finally, you won’t want to miss our review of ThinkSound’s ms01 Monitor Series earbuds, a pair of high-quality headphones with unique wood construction and environmentally-friendly materials.

On the software side of Android, the biggest release this week was probably Wikipedia’s official Android app, which can now be downloaded for free in the Market. Shooter favorite Counter-Strike is now available in beta form, and high-profile games Temple Run and Reckless Racing 2 will soon be headed to the Android Market as well. In more wide-reaching news, popular Android modder/developer Koush has begun work on a CyanogenMod App Store, which he says will welcome all the legitimate apps that have been given the boot from the Market by Google, including tethering, emulator and root apps. We can’t wait to see what comes of this one, especially since it will be open to non-CyanogenMod users as well.

In more general Android news, the original Motorola XOOM got an official Ice Cream Sandwich update, while the HP TouchPad got an extremely unofficial one, courtesy of the CyanogenMod team. Speaking of older hardware, an early version of Samsung’s update for the original Galaxy S was leaked, showing their “Value Pack” of ICS-style features that are intended to mollify users upset that they won’t be getting the real McCoy. Meanwhile, HTC is updating its CDMA phones to get rid of Carrier IQ’s software, which caused both hardware makers and carriers a PR nightmare late last year. The EVO 4G, Epic 4G, EVO 3D and EVO Design 4G are among the first phones to be corrected. In the ongoing patent wars, Apple slapped Samsung with a request for a ban on 10 devices in Germany and another US lawsuit over the slide-to-unlock feature on the Galaxy Nexus. I guess no one told them that Google made that particular feature.

We hope you’ve had a good weekend, and we’ll return you to your regularly scheduled Android coverage tomorrow morning. Enjoy the NFL playoffs!


No comments:

Post a Comment