Friday, February 4, 2011

Pulse Reader Gets Updated for Honeycomb

10:23 AM Simranpal SIngh No comments

The hugely popular Pulse RSS Reader that is on both Android and iOS devices had the honor of being showcased during the Honeycomb press conference yesterday.  The presentation showed an updated UI that takes full advantage of all the new developer toys that are being included in the latest build of our favorite mobile OS.
Check out the full press release after the break.  If you have not downloaded Pulse, I highly recommend it!Full Press Release
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA – FEB 2, 2010 – Alphonso Labs, creators of the
hugely popular Pulse News app, showcased its brand new Android Tablet app
at the Honeycomb launch event at Google Headquarters. Alphonso Labs has
worked closely with Google over the last few weeks to customize their Pulse
News application and take full advantage of the Honeycomb platform.
Pulse, currently available on iPad, iPhone and Android phones, will expand its
cross-platform reach by launching the Android tablet app later this month. There
are a lot of new and exciting features in Honeycomb. Here’s a developer’s
perspective on how Pulse is leveraging the Honeycomb platform to enhance the
news reading experience on Android Tablets.
Activity Fragments
Honeycomb allows developers to break the Activities of their applications into
sub-components called Fragments, and then combine them in a variety of ways
to create a richer, more interactive experience. For the landscape view, Pulse
allows you to open the story right there in a new fragment. This allows readers
to simultaneously browse and read news stories.
Home Screen Widgets
Honeycomb lets developers take home screen widgets to the next level, offering
more types of content and new modes of interaction with users. Pulse has
incorporated some of these new widgets in its Android tablet app. What you see
below is a 3D stack of articles from a particular source, which you can flick up or
down to change stories. You can also click on a story you like, and go right into
the app. Interactive widgets will change the way you interact with the Android
ecosystem.
New Animation Framework & Hardware Accelerated Graphics
Honeycomb gives a performance boost to many graphics operations for
applications running in the Android framework. Pulse runs blazingly fast on
Honeycomb – the fluidity of the interactions is especially noticeable.
Richer Notifications
Honeycomb extends notifications by letting developers include richer content in
them. Pulse can now show you news stories, including image and headlines in
these notifications, keeping you up to date.
The Pulse News App is available on the App Store and Android Market.
Read more »

Next-Gen Aava Core Based on Intel Medfield CPU, Runs Android and MeeGo

10:19 AM Simranpal SIngh No comments

In the world of Intel Androids there aren’t many options, but Aava’s second-generation of their aptly named Aava Core platform is hoping to bolster the ranks. Based around Intel’s Medfield (the followup to their Moorsetown mobile processor), the new Aava Core will be shown off at MWC packaged inside a developer-grade handset measuring only 8.9mm in thickness (it may or may not look something like their first-generation hardware shown above).
The integrated CPU/modem is calibrated to support both Android and MeeGo, but Aava doesn’t plan on launching the phone to consumers. Instead they are aiming to get it into the hands of developers to showcase its power and drum up some interest in the platform.
Read more »

Android 3.0 Fragment API Makes Scaling for Screen Size Easy

10:17 AM Simranpal SIngh No comments

First let’s talk about the obvious. Isn’t it kind of funny that the Android Team, notorious for talking down the issue of fragmentation, would name the functionality for scaling apps between screen sizes the Fragment API? Regardless of whether or not the name admits that Android is a heavily fragmented platform or not, it is the Honeycomb engine that will allow developers to easily scale apps between screen sizes to create a consistent experience across devices.
The Fragment API helps apps adjust their user interfaces not only to screen size, but also in appearance and functionality depending on device. The Android Developers Blog has the down and dirty on it. If you are a developer looking to get your apps on to Honeycomb it’s definitely worth the read.
Read more »

Android’s Impact on HTC Visualized

10:14 AM Simranpal SIngh No comments

Business Insider threw together a little chart showing HTC’s gross profits before and after Android. You’ll notice right around the time a certain monster Android handset launched HTC’s income turned up and never stopped. Sure, their first few Android device’s might not have caught on right away, but by the time the HTC EVO 4G launched on Sprint, the future was clear.
Read more »

[Exclusive] Android Ice Cream Details – Bits of Honey, But Not the Full Comb [Build GRI17]

10:12 AM Simranpal SIngh No comments


Google has been met with the question time and time again: will Honeycomb ever make it to phones? You had to guess that their answer has either always been “no” or “we don’t know” by now – that version of Android is just too fleshed out for phones. That doesn’t mean tastes of Honeycomb won’t affect future phone versions of Android though.
We’ve just gotten word from a trusted source that Google has begun building a new branch of code – being called GRI17 (Gingerbread post-Honeycomb, aka “Ice Cream”) – that aims to bring some of the new elements found in Honeycomb over to phones.
What features they’d be bringing over and to what extent isn’t known yet, but I can’t imagine optional hardware buttons and the new notification system would be left out. I’d also count on hardware acceleration and RenderScript making it in, but all of this is just speculation and guesstimation on my part.
Earlier today, we heard the Google team had just begun thinking about bringing the phone and tablet version of Android closer together, which gives legs to this rumor.
We probably won’t see the fruits of their labor until later in the year – especially considering their aim is to widen the gap between Android versions to make it easier on developers, OEMs, and users alike. All we can do is wait and try to dig for more details for the time being, but one thing’s for sure: Android on phones is only going to get better from here on out, full Honeycomb or not.
Read more »

Motorola Atrix 4G will be AT&T’s flagship phone, laptop dock carries premium price

10:09 AM Simranpal SIngh No comments

AT&T has finally unveiled the launch date and pricing options for the much-hyped Atrix 4G. Motorola’s new superphone will launch by March 3rd (or earlier) for $199 with 2-year agreement.
Those wishing to pre-order the Atrix 4G can do so with AT&T on February 13th.
“Today consumers use their smartphones to stay constantly connected to the information that matters to them most. The Motorola ATRIX 4G along with our webtop application and innovative docks enable a truly mobile computing experience never before possible on a smartphone,” said Alain Mutricy, senior vice president, portfolio and product device management, Motorola Mobility.
We originally thought the Atrix 4G might debut for $149 and that could still be the case, but not from AT&T. The leaked pricing of $149 appeared at Amazon and Costco, two retailers known for their discount pricing.
Those wishing to pick up the innovative laptop dock will have two options. They can opt for a $499.99 bundle (after a $100 mail-in rebate) that includes a 2-year contract, phone, laptop dock, and Data Pro data plan and tethering add-on ($20 per month) or they can buy the laptop dock at full price for $499.99.
The price of the phone is somewhat expected since most high-end phones these days ring in at $199, but the cost of the laptop dock seems a little shocking since it’s just a display, keyboard, and battery . Leaked prices for the dock were around $150, but it does offer a unique experience that appeals to a certain type of user so I guess Motorola thought the price was justified.
AT&T will also offer another bundle called the Entertainment Access Kit. This one will set you back $189.99. and it includes the HD Multimedia Dock, a remote control, and a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse.
I previously said I was switching to AT&T and buying the Atrix and that’s still the case. The laptop dock feels a little over-priced, but it’s the only solution of its kind on the market and it’s exactly what I’m looking for.
How do the new prices affect your decision to buy the Atrix? Is the high cost of the laptop dock a turn off? Or will you just buy the phone and use it alone?
Show Press Release

DALLAS, Feb. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ –
Key Facts

  • AT&T begins pre-sales for Motorola ATRIX 4G on Feb. 13
  • Motorola ATRIX 4G, powered by the Android 2.2 platform, available exclusively for AT&T customers for $199.99 with a two-year service agreement.
  • Motorola ATRIX 4G is expected to be available from AT&T and select retail channels for customers by March 6 or earlier.
  • AT&T will offer bundled pricing for the Motorola ATRIX 4G and the Motorola Laptop Dock.
4G Portfolio
AT&T is the leader in smartphones, and expects to widen that lead in 2011. In January, AT&T committed to an industry-leading Android portfolio in the U.S. in 2011 and said it plans to offer two 4G smartphones in the first quarter. An industry first, the Motorola ATRIX 4G is the leading edge of more than 20 advanced, 4G devices AT&T plans to deliver in 2011. AT&T has completed the deployment of HSPA+ to virtually 100 percent of its mobile broadband network, which enables 4G speeds when combined with enhanced backhaul.
Motorola ATRIX 4G
The Motorola ATRIX 4G Android 2.2 smartphone will be offered exclusively by AT&T and is the world’s most powerful smartphone. Featuring a 2×1 GHz dual-core processor for a total of 2 GHz of processing power, a unique webtop application, the world’s first qHD display, and Adobe flash player, the, ATRIX 4G delivers a remarkable combination of application processing power with 4G speed capability and a high-resolution qHD display, a first for the industry.
It will be complemented by breakthrough accessories that include a revolutionary, super-thin Motorola Laptop Dock — for which ATRIX 4G is the “engine” — and the Motorola HD Multimedia Dock that uses ATRIX 4G’s HDMI video output capabilities and processing power to enable a revolutionary browsing, application and media experience.
AT&T will offer two special packages for customers who choose to purchase ATRIX 4G in addition to these unique accessories. The first combines ATRIX 4G and the Motorola Laptop Dock for a promotional price of $499.99 after a two-year service contract and $100 mail-in-rebate after subscription to Data Pro smartphone data plan and tethering add on. Customers who choose to purchase the Motorola Laptop Dock separately pay $499.99. AT&T is also offering an Entertainment Access Kit for ATRIX customers which includes the Motorola HD Multimedia Dock, a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, and a remote control for $189.99.
Motorola ATRIX 4G will also include AT&T Mobile Hotspot service built into the smartphone, allowing users to connect additional Wi-Fi-enabled devices.
AT&T U-verse® TV customers will be able to manage their DVR recordings – and U-verse customers with a qualifying TV plan can download and watch hit TV shows – right from their ATRIX 4G handset using the U-verse Mobile application. In addition, any ATRIX 4G user, whether or not they have U-verse TV at home, can still enjoy a variety of video options – including live TV – with the new U-verse Live TV application, preloaded and available for $9.99 a month.
Read more »

Pre-Order HTC Thunderbolt at Best Buy Soon?

10:08 AM Simranpal SIngh No comments

Android Central got their has gotten their hands on a Best Buy circular ad teasing that the HTC Thunderbolt may be available for pre-order very soon. A $50-dollar deposit is required, and no firm release date is mentioned in the ad. Rumors have been flying about a release date of either the 14th or the 24th, but Verizon has told us that we’d see it sooner than we expected. My money’s on a Valentine’s Day launch, personally. If you’ve been looking to pick up this phone, keep an eye on your local Best Buy, or stay tuned right here, we’ll let you know when it’s available for pre-order and for sale.
Read more »

Steelers Fans – Get Your Terrible Towel Android App Today

10:04 AM Simranpal SIngh No comments

Just in time for the Super Bowl, Steelers fans can get the famous Terrible Towel, right on their phone. Android owners can get their black and yellow on this Sunday by grabbing the app to show their support for Pittsburg. In addition to being a digital representation of the towel, the app also gives real-time team news, highlights, and tweets from the team. It does require the Adobe Air plugin, so if you have that, you can get the app for .99 from our app database or by scanning the QR code below.
Read more »

Rogers Samsung Galaxy S Captivate gets Froyo source code released.

10:01 AM Simranpal SIngh No comments

After finally getting Android 2.2 out to Samsung Captivate customers under Rogers Wireless in Canada, Samsung has decided its time to release the source code so all can see what’s under the hood. Head on over and download it to have a peek, just be sure to search for model number “SGH-i896″ under the mobile section.
Read more »