Friday, February 4, 2011

Top Android Apps in the Week of Honeycomb’s ReleaseTop Android Apps in the Week of Honeycomb’s Release

6:21 PM Simranpal SIngh No comments

With the launch of Android 3.0 aka Honeycomb, the week ended on a fruitful note for Google. Honeycomb designed with tablets in mind, a few hot apps this week will look super cool on the bigger screen. Business apps in particular seem to be a huge favourite, QuickOffice even came out with an app version just for Honeycomb this week.
QuickOffice was amongst the elite to demo their app on the Honeycomb at Google’s press event this week. Microsoft Office productivity suite optimized for mobile use, where you can share, transfer and manage files across a number of cloud services. This paid app is worth $9.99.
Android tablets will be a huge business crowd puller; hence, cloud-sharing apps will be on the rise. 2X Client has a free and simple solution to connect your mobile device to your home or office computer. The remote desktop app currently supports Windows desktops, and supports a host of VDIs.
Appcard Light is a new and rising kid on the block. A digital solution to the fumbling business card. This Free app helps create a business card using simple templates. Show your business card on your Android screen, or send it to a new acquaintance via email, Facebook, Twitter or QR code. The full version available for $1.07.
Android Booster is a straightforward take on optimizing your smartphone’s resources. Minimize power consumption, set preferences around Internet usage and run scans for auto-optimization. This app has FREE SD card support, file-managers and traffic monitors.
Mozilla is getting serious about its Android presence, updating its Firefox 4 Beta app with bug fixes, theme support and over 100 add-ons. It staked new share in the Android Market with the launch of Mozilla Firefox Web Browser, it is FREE and has added speed and stability for the new version of the app.
HighNote is a fancy messaging tool, whcih allows you to manage the interface for messages, including SMS, shared media, and social network updates. The service is FREE, with support for photos, music, geo-tagging and videos, as well as events, calendar integration and group messaging.
Check-in the new Google Maps on your Android. It allows you to check-in automatically when you arrive at your destination. Free, Google Maps frequently updated with new social features to the local search app.
Blekko is network of sorts, leveraging a wide community to filter and share the web along with you. This new-age search app is free.

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Motorola Atrix 4G Arriving March 6th On AT&T, $200 On Contract And $500 With Laptop Dock

6:01 PM Simranpal SIngh No comments

Here it is gang.  The guess work is over as of today.  AT&T will begin taking pre sales for the new Messiah phone, the Atrix 4G, on Feb 13th with the expected price tag of $199.99 on a 2 yr contract.  The device is touted to launch March 6th with the possibility of an earlier release date, per AT&T.  In addition, those looking to grab the laptop dock along with the Atrix can expect to tack on another $300.00 bones to the mix.  We heard you say “ouch”.  So, for a total of $499.99 the device and dock are yours.  Now, keep in mind that you’ll most likely require AT&T’s Data Pro plan and tethering add-on to go along with the hardware.  In addition, if you’re not too strapped at the end of the month with that hefty cellphone bill, AT&T is also offering an Entertainment Access Kit which includes the HD multi-media dock, bluetooth keyboard & mouse and a remote control for $189.99  Hit the break for more details, pics and the official press release.
Device Specs:
  • nVidia’s 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 processor.
  • 1 GB RAM
  • 4.0 inch QHD display with 24 bit color graphics
  • 1930 mAh battery
  • Fingerprint recognition reader
  • Two browsers: Android’s default and Firefox 3.6
  • Android 2.2 with Motoblur (Upgradable to Android 2.3
  • 16 GB internal memory with MicroSD Card slot which supports up to 32 GB. That puts the maximum capacity to up to 48 GB
  • Measurement: 2.5 × 4.6 × 0.4 inches
  • Weight: 4.8 ounces
Elaborate Specs:
  • Camera :  Primary  5 MP, 2592Ñ…1944 pixels,  Secondary VGA
  • Size :  Dimensions  117.8 x 63.5 x 10.1 mm
  • Display :  540 x 960 pixels,  4.0 inches,
  • Connectivity :   GPRS, EDGE, 3G, HSDPA, HSUPA, WiFi, Bluetooth
  • Weight :  135 g
  • Sound :  3.5 mm audio jack
  • Extra Feature : Biometric fingerprint reader, Gorilla Glass display, Touch sensitive controls, MOTOBLUR UI with Live Widgets, Multi-touch input method, Accelerometer sensor for UI auto-rotate, Proximity sensor for auto turn-off, 1080p HD video playback, Webtop accessory, Biometric fingerprint login security, Noise Cancellation,  Adobe 10.1 Flash compatibility, Android Market, G-mail, Google Maps, G-Talk, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook
  •  



    Press Release:

    AT&T Announces the World’s Most Powerful Smartphone, the Motorola ATRIX 4G, Will Be Available for Preorder on Feb. 13

    Unique line of Accessories, Including the Motorola Laptop Dock, Available with Bundled Pricing
    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.
    For more information, visit www.att.com/atrix4G. For photos and more information about presales for ATRIX 4G, visit www.att.com/mobilephones-news.

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Android 3.0 Honeycomb Won’t Be Coming To A Smartphone Near You, Just For Tablets, Says Google

5:56 PM Simranpal SIngh No comments

Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Google has confirmed that dreadful and unwanted news of Honeycomb not coming to your smartphone.  A company spokesman was asked the question whether or not Honeycomb 3.0 would make its way to handsets, Andrew Kovacs said “no…Google’s Android 3.0 or “Honeycomb” is a tablet-only OS, for now.”
It kind of makes sense though, doesn’t it?  According to various portions of the SDK, it was clear that some aspects of the source code was clearly optimized for larger form factors.  It raised numerous questions as to how this could possibly be delivered to handsets.
In an article by PC Magazine, Kovacs further states:
“The version of Honeycomb we’ve shown is optimized for tablet form factors….All of the UI changes are the future of Android. Yesterday’s event focused on tablet form factors, which is where you’ll first see Honeycomb.”

However, he did state, regarding smartphones, that “features will arrive on phones over time”.
Still, Android 3.0 certainly paves the way for features to arrive on Android 2.2 devices and subsequent followups. In addition to the browser enhancements, Gmail also has drag-and-drop folders. And then there’s Movie Studio, a new video-editing app that could be used in some way on smartphones that can capture video.
Then there is the issue regarding nomenclature.  The author raised the question that if Honeycomb is 3.0, what does this mean for smartphones running 2.x?  And what happens when they get to 2.9?  It seems as though, while one question was answered, a dozen more were conjured up.  Only time will tell, as they say.  But rest assured, Talk Android will be there to cover it all and inform the masses.  Leave us your thoughts in the comments below.
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Google Brings Blogger App to Android

5:54 PM Simranpal SIngh No comments

Google’s Blogger service is one of the most popular blogging apps out there. It’s been quite a shame that there hasn’t been an Android app for Blogger services…until now. But today, Google has released a Blogger app for your Android phone. Being able to blog on the go just got easier, complete with the option to sort posts and upload pictures directly from the gallery.
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Android's Very Good Week

11:26 AM Simranpal SIngh No comments

SLIDESHOW
There are two significant pieces of Android news this week: The introduction of the operating system version customized for tablets – Honeycomb – and its passage of Symbian to become the leading mobile operating system.

Each piece of news shows the progress being made by Android. Taken together, they are extremely compelling evidence of the strength of the OS which, after all, is just a toddler at five years old.

The New York Times is one of many sites reporting on the shipment estimates, which were made by Canalys. The company said that in the fourth quarter of 2010 manufacturers shipped 33.3 million Android-based phones. That edged out its year-ago quarter, when 4.7 million were shipped. Symbian shipped 31 million. Though it was edged out by Android, Symbian enjoyed a 31 percent increase.

Of course, it doesn’t pay to shed any tears for Nokia, which has about 1.3 billion users worldwide. But, according to the story, Nokia has "struggled to develop an operating system for high-end smartphones, the fastest-growing and most lucrative part of the business." The writer raises the possibility that Nokia may go with another OS in the United States.

The other piece of good news for Android is Honeycomb. Ars Technica has a nice rundown, with some good photos. The story says that Honeycomboffers a “‘holographic’ user interface shell," more extensive application programming interfaces (APIs) for developers and improved graphic performance. Lifehacker compares Honeycomb to the iPad, starting with five areas where the new operating system wins.

The question to follow deals with the fate of a technology introduced for consumers in the enterprise. SlashGear has a piece covering Box.net CEO Aaron Levie’s handicapping the enterprise iPad battle between Android and those using the proprietary OSes. He picks the open platform because of its ability to stimulate developers.

The point seems at once well-taken and simplistic. Clearly, developers will flock to Android. By the same token, they won’t abandon the iPad in any number. At the end of the day, the two operating systems – as well as Cius from Cisco, PlayBook from Research In Motion and others – will share the enterprise. Frameworks, such as Rhmobile’s, will enable developers to write once for multiple platforms. The concept of winners and losers will fade.
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Android may kill the iPhone

10:47 AM Simranpal SIngh No comments

Netgear's CEO Patrick Lo has predicted the Android will beat the iPhone as the world's leading smartphone.
The Sydney Morning Herald has quoted Lo as saying that the iPhone is "ultimately a closed system that just can't go that far", and that Android is continuing to creep up.
Android became the world's leading smartphone platform in the fourth quarter of 2010, and Android-equipped shipped 32.9 million handsets worldwide during that period.
Apple shipped only 16.2 million iPhone's in the same time frame.
Lo said that the open-source OS from Google will eventually become a standard, seriously challenging Apple's iOS.
Google's open-source software is proving to be a big hit with smartphone makers such as LG, Samsung, Acer and HTC.
On the topic of Microsoft's Windows Phone 7, Lo suggested that the glory days of Microsoft have passed.
'Microsoft is game-over from my point of view'.

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If You’re Still Using Blogger, Here’s Your App

10:30 AM Simranpal SIngh No comments

Blogger is like that long lost friend you just assume you will never see again. Easily forgotten, it seems, by more than just users from the past, Google has finally gotten around to pushing out an Android app for their personal blogging site, even after iPhone users have enjoyed it for quite some time. Now you can blog, upload images, and go on about your day no matter wherever you are.
You need Android 2.1 or higher, but you can grab it now in the Android Market free of charge.
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Samsung Galaxy Tab 2: Launch Date and Specs

10:28 AM Simranpal SIngh No comments

We already know that Sammy is expected to unveil their next generation Galaxy tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 at Mobile World Congress 2011 in Barcelona this month; however apparently Sammy will apparently launch both the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 and the Samsung Galaxy S 2 on the 13th of Feb.
According to an article over on One India, a leaked MWC 2011 Samsung presentation schedule shows that Samsung will launch both the Android operating system devices on February 13th.
Spec wise, word has it that the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 will be an Android 3.0 Honeycomb device with a 7 inch Super AMOLED Gorilla glass display, NVIDIA Tegra 2 1GHz processor, 8 megapixel rear camera with HD recording, 3 megapixel front facing video chat camera, WiFi, 64GB memory, and 1GB RAM.
As for the Samsung Galaxy S 2 smartphone, rumoured specs for the device are a 4.3 inch Super AMOLED 2 touch screen, 8 megapixel camera with flash, Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS, 1GHz dual-core processor, and 1GB RAM.
Having said that of course none of the specs have been confirmed by Samsung, but as MWC 2011 isn’t too far off it won’t be that long before we know all the details.
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Android Versions Visualized In Graphs By Google [STATISTICS]

10:26 AM Simranpal SIngh No comments

You’ve got an old version of Android and you’re dying to have that crucial upgrade beamed down to you. How many others are like you? How many users are running Android 1.5, 1.6, 2.1, or 2.2, and how many have thus far been blessed with Android 2.3? Google answered that question in a couple charts showing the current and historical distribution of Android versions.

Looks like the majority of users are on Android 2.2 which is a great sign and Android 2.1 is in a second place landslide. Just over 10% of users still run Android 1.X. Now take a look at how these numbers have changed over time, since August:
 
So in August, it looks like less than 5% of Android users had 2.2 while a massive amount had Android 2.1. How would you explain this graph and it’s implications?
For the most part, I’d say this is a good indication that despite all of the complaints about individual devices not getting their updates, carriers and manufacturers are doing a pretty good job as a whole in terms of adopting the newest versions of Android. It’s interesting to point out that most of the new Android 2.2 users probably came from one of two places:
  • Those upgrading from 2.1 to 2.2
  • New users buying 2.2 phones out of the box
While being stuck on 1.X stinks, you can see they’re slowly fading out. I’d bet that a large chunk of this population doesn’t even realize or really care they don’t have the latest update. Still, over 30% of users had 1.X devices in August and now that numbers is around 10%. I’d say that indicates a pretty good push towards new versions.
The other interesting point to note is how numbers can be misleading. A few of examples:
  • The data only counts unique devices that have been to Android Market in the previous 14-days and folks on 1.X who have had their device a long time probably don’t check Android Market as often as people who have recently purchased a phone
  • Similar to above, tech enthusiasts are more likely to have devices with more recent versions and also more likely to check Android Market
  • Perhaps the biggest wrench to throw into all of this is the number of devices. If millions of Android 2.2 phones have been sold recently, it may appear that the historical graph is showing Android Updates when in reality it’s simply showing that lots of new phones with Android 2.2 were sold.
Make of the data what you will. There are a lot of ifs, ands, ors and buts, but I think that in the end this illustrates that manufacturers and carriers should get a little more credit for embracing newer versions of Android.



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