T-Mobile Galaxy S 4G Gets Gingerbread Update

Samsung Galaxy S 4G owners on T-Mobile have been waiting quite a while for the Gingerbread update that was promised by T-Mobile and it’s finally here. Unfortunately the update must be applied OTW (over-the-wire) via Kies Mini on a PC. Unfortunately T-Mobile doesn’t list whether or not the upgrade will be able to be applied in-store, but it couldn’t hurt to call your local store and ask. Take a look at the list below for the changes you can expect and find full instructions and download links at the T-Mobile’s support site.

Devices upgrading to T959VUVKJ6 will benefit from:

• Android 2.3(Gingerbread)
• Google Security Patch
• Camera enhancements
• Wi-Fi enhancements

Note: The upgrade to KJ6 is NOT required. You may opt out of the upgrade and continue using software version T959VUVKD1.

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Kindle Fire Finds Easy “1-Click” Root Method – Let The Games Begin

Okay, so it was only a few minutes ago that I told you guys the Kindle Fire source code had been made available by Amazon. Now, that’s all fine and dandy for creating custom ROMs but there’s only one small problem — you can’t install a custom ROM without first getting root onto your device.

Well, no sooner do I check our Phantips that I learn the rooting roadblock has been removed thanks to death2all11o from our very own Android Forums. Mr. Death created a very nice “how-to” guide in the Kindle Fire forums detailing the exact steps needed to root the Kindle Fire. And let me tell you, it’s pretty easy.
I think it’s time we start taking bets on how soon we’ll see Ice Cream Sandwich on this baby. It’s going to be really hard to resist buying this tablet for my stocking stuffer…
[Via AndroidForums]

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Kindle Fire Source Code Now Available And Ready For Download

Well, that wasn’t too long at all. Complying with the AOSP agreement, Amazon has released the source code to the recently release Kindle Fire. While this may not mean too much for your average Joe or soccer mom, this is how developers and modders are able to create custom ROMs, kernels and generally make some really cool stuff happen for a device. While that’s not totally certain, it is the first steps to making that happen. Now, all we can do is wait to see if the Kindle Fire can be rooted and we may see some custom ROMs cooked up for the device in the very near future.
If you want to take a peak at the source code, head on over to the source link for the download.
[Via BriefMobile]

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Qualcomm announces its own Snapdragon game store

As Android’s gaming prowess (or at lest the hardware it requires) becomes more and more evident, Qualcomm has decided they want to highlight the potential of their Snapdragon series of mobile processors. To that end, they’ve announced Snapdragon GamesCommand, a showcase app filled with “console-quality” and casual games exclusively for Snapdragon devices. Like Nvidia’s Tegra Zone, at least some of the games in GamesCommand will not appear anywhere else – those with other hardware are out of luck.

The company is also revamping their Snapdragon GamePack, adding three games to the mix: The Ball, Fight Game Heroes and GALAGA Special edition, all expected by early 2012. These high-profile titles join more than 100 games already available in the GamePack, and will be the first of a new crop designed to shop off the graphical prowess of the latest generation of Snapdragon processors. Qualcomm did not give exact dates on availability of the expanded GamePack or GamesCommand.
The latest hardware-contingent game store is an interesting divergence from the idea that the Android Market is the best place to showcase Android software. The hardware split might remind you of ATI/AMD and Nvidia duking it out over desktop graphics cards, but in truth, it’s a lot more like the console gaming market. In order to get access to all the latest high-end games, Android users may have to purchase multiple high-end devices, or more likely, simply go without. The precedent is a disturbing one – I’d much rather have developers create games that can run across different types of hardware. It looks like your next tablet purchase might be a tricky one, since you’ll have to consider not just how fast it will run software, but which software it will run.
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Sharp’s 7-inch Android tablet breaks cover

Back in mid-September, we got word that the Sharp Galapagos 5.5-inch and 10.8-inch tablets had been killed off. These tablets never sold very well. Sharp hoped at the time that its 7-inch Galapagos tablet would be better received by the Android tablet buyers out there. I have my doubts about that, but the Sharp Galapagos 7-inch tablet has now been seen in the flesh.

The tablet has a 7-inch 1024 x 600 screen and packs in a Tegra 2 processor with dual cores. The device has 1GB of memory and it has 8GB of internal storage. A microSD card slot handles more storage if you run out. Other features include WiFi, Bluetooth, and WiMax connectivity. That WiMax connection allows the tablet to get onto the speedy network wherever it goes.
It also features a hot spot function that will allow the connectivity to be shared with up to seven other devices. The battery inside the tablet is rated for six hours of video playback and about 7.5 hours of still image perusing. Sharp also integrates HDMI output for shooting content to a TV. Pricing is unknown and a lot of the success will depend on the cost. The tablet will apparently hit Japan first on September 12, almost exactly a year after the other two tablets were axed.

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Motorola Razr vs Samsung Galaxy Note

We compare Motorola's brand new Razr smartphone with Samsung's sizable Galaxy Note handset

Motorola has just launched its latest Razr smartphone while Samsung just brought its larger Galaxy Note device to market. We pitch them against each other to see which is best.

FormMotorola’s brand new Razr represents the company’s move to a cohesive yet bold new visual style, featuring tapered edges together with a sharply angled aesthetic, which combine to make something very refreshing and distinctive.
It’s instantly recognisable and sits firmly alongside the new Motorola Xoom 2 tablets in terms of design.
It may be a grimly predictable observation but Razr really is an appropriate name here as it easily takes the title of ‘thinnest smartphone’ at 7.1mm. Other standout features include the textured Kevlar back panel, which looks rather snazzy as well as making the phone very durable, though, we perhaps wouldn't rely on it to stop bullets.
Compared with the Razr, Samsung’s Galaxy Note is an absolute beast of a handset, resembling a small tablet with its 5.3-inch screen.
Its size is sure to not meet everyone’s tastes, but despite being what some may consider a cumbersomely scaled device it still has a stylish element to its construction.
It may not be as thin as the Razr but it’s still pretty slim at 9.7mm and features a nicely textured and slightly curved back panel. Being fairly light helps a lot, too.
The front carries Samsung’s characteristic minimalist aesthetic and the screen extends close to the edges of the device, giving a thin bezel which lends a sharp, neat appearance.
As much as we like the styling of the Samsung Galaxy Note, Motorola’s Razr is a much more attention-grabbing handset visually, a factor which wins it this round.
Winner - Motorola Razr

DisplayIt is, frankly, quite difficult for most phones to beat the Samsung Galaxy Note’s vast 5.3-inch expanse of high resolution and high pixel density Gorilla Glass.
The Galaxy Note uses Samsung’s Super AMOLED technology for enhanced brightness and colours, along with better power efficiency than standard LCD.
The Gorilla Glass means the capacitive, multi-touch capable touchscreen won’t smash easily and at 800x1280 pixels, with a pixel density of 285 pixels-per-inch (ppi), you can be sure it will push out very clear and clean visuals on a grand scale.
Apart from this, the phone is loaded with a tailored build of Samsung’s TouchWiz 4.0 user interface (UI), along with gyro and accelerometer sensors that allow for screen rotation.
The customised UI enhances menus and native apps for the Galaxy Note’s extra-large screen space. This includes the addition of split screen interface boxes and allows for full screen web page and video viewing.
The other way in which the Galaxy Note has been customised is the S Pen stylus compatibility. The S Pen is a pressure sensitive stylus, lightly brushing the screen in a painting app, for example, will create a thin line while pressing harder will create a thicker stroke.
It also has some nifty in-built support such as a hold press for screenshot capture and a double tap for bringing up a Memo note over any app or screen.
A hold press outside of the Memo will take you back to the screen for as long as it’s held, allowing you to quickly switch for note taking between your note and a wep-page, for example.
The Motorola, then, is comparatively diminutive when it comes to the display.
Except that it’s not, really (still with us?). It's a good sized screen at 4.3-inches and what’s more the resolution and pixel density are pretty damn good too at 540x960 pixels and 256ppi.
Like the Galaxy Note, the Razr also uses a Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with multi-touch, Gorilla Glass and an accelerometer.
Make no mistake, these are both excellent displays which most users would be more than happy with.
Technically, the Galaxy Note comes out as superior thanks to its higher resolution and pixel density. We also prefer larger touchscreens so we do see that as a plus.
However, for everyone there is sure to be a cut-off point where a large screen does become impractical, regardless of its impressive stats.
For us, this isn’t the case with the Galaxy Note, but if you think a 5.3-inch device would be too unwieldy you’re going to be far better off with the Motorola Razr. Either way, you won't be disappointed.
Winner - Draw

StorageThe Razr comes with 16GB of onboard storage space and 1GB of RAM. Also, unlike its larger tablet counterparts, it has additional microSD card storage up to a further 32GB.
Samsung’s Galaxy Note has the same 1GB of RAM and 16GB of storage with the lower-end option, however, you can choose the 32GB model for some ramped-up capacity. This can be extended even further thanks to 32GB microSD capability.
We’re siding with the Galaxy Note here. The Razr is no miser when it comes to storage space but Samsung’s offering is much more generous.
Winner - Samsung Galaxy Note

Processor
Both phones are powered by an ARM Cortex-A9 dual core processor but both have been setup and tweaked in slightly different ways.

Samsung’s oversized phone uses the company’s own Exynos processor that was also used to excellent effect inside the Galaxy S2 smartphone. Alongside this it boasts a Mali-400MP graphics processing unit (GPU), which is one of the best out there.

The whole thing is clocked at a hefty 1.4GHz, which is faster than the Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy S2.

Motorola’s Razr isn’t quite as bang up-to-date as the Galaxy Note. It’s clocked at 1.2GHz, the same as the Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy S2, but it runs a Texas Instruments OMAP 4430 processor and a PowerVR SGX540 GPU.

It’s certainly no slouch and isn’t going to break a sweat running virtually any current game or app you care to chuck at it, but it doesn’t quite have the same brute force and ‘future-proof’ quality that the Galaxy Note provides.

Winner – Samsung Galaxy Note

Operating System
These are both Android phones running on version 2.3 Gingerbread, though, Motorola has confirmed the Razr will get the new 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich build in the new year.

Being a new model, it seems likely the same will happen to the Galaxy Note, though, perhaps at a slightly slower pace due to its custom S Pen and display requirements.

Gingerbread is relatively stable as Android builds go. It’s also got that signature effortless multi-tasking capability and a useful set of app management controls to keep track of system resources. On these powerful handsets it runs without breaking a sweat.

One thing it really has going for it is the abundance of apps on the Android Market, something we tend to miss on other systems other than iOS.

Apart from this, however, it’s not quite as feature-rich as more recent systems from Microsoft and Apple and we’re eagerly anticipating Ice Cream Sandwich to bump things up a notch.

There’s nothing to compare the two here as they’re both on an equal footing.

Winner - Draw

Camera
Each handset is equipped with an 8-megapixel primary camera at a 3264x2448 pixel resolution and capable of 1080p video capture.

The Motorola has a 1.2-megapixel secondary on the front, while the Samsung Galaxy Note’s secondary is rated at 2-megapixels and both allow for video calls.

Both phones have a similar line-up of camera features with LED flash, autofocus, touch focus, geo-tagging, image stabilisation and face detection. The Samsung Galaxy Note has the addition of smile detection so you don't need to press the shutter. Well, unless you don't smile, that is.

These devices are pretty evenly matched when it comes to in-built cameras and both are sure to offer a satisfactory experience. This one’s a draw.

Winner - Draw

Final ThoughtsThese are two excellent smartphones, in terms of performance, storage, display quality and camera they’ve got a lot to offer even the most demanding user.

Generally speaking, the Motorola comes out slightly behind the Galaxy Note in a few areas.

Although the processor is brilliant, it’s not quite as forward-looking as the Galaxy Note’s and the Razr also has less storage space, though, still more than enough for most people. Plus Google Music will present increased space for both in the cloud, if the service is ever launched in the UK.

We think the Razr is actually the better choice in terms of getting the most out of the conventional smartphone platform - it’s much more usable as a phone.

The Galaxy Note, much as we love it, is a very purpose-built creature and you’re probably only going to be able to overlook its inconvenient size if its quirky features are of huge benefit to your work, hobbies or lifestyle.

If so, you’re dealing with a highly rewarding and powerful smartphone, but we’d still suggest trying one out in a phone shop if possible before sealing the deal.

The bottom line is, either way, these are about as good as you can get when it comes to Android.

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Google may tests out cable TV service in Kansas City

Google’s no stranger to disruptive technology, but so far, Google TV has failed to make a dent in the set-top box market. Google may be aiming to change that with a new approach: don’t replace the cable box, replace the cable company. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the search giant is investigating the possibility of bringing cable TV services to customers of its upcoming fiber service in Kansas City, Missouri, bringing both super-fast Internet and Google-branded TV to its lucky residents.

You’ll remember that Kansas City was selected as the recipient of Google Fiber, an experimental fiber network that will deliver blazing broadband speeds at a fraction of the cost of current providers. Very little has been heard about the service since Kansas City was announced as the recipient. Cable services, either via an IPTV system or traditional methods, would not be beyond Google’s reach. And with Kansas City already serving as a testing area for Google-branded services, rolling out cable TV would be a very easy addition.
Part of the reason for this could be Google’s frustration over the Google TV platform. Just last week Logitech announced plans to abandon its Revue device after staggering profit losses, and there are still a large amount of cable providers that will not support Google TV. Perhaps Google is tired of trying to change things from the bottom and is hoping to compete directly with cable and satellite providers, many of which also provide “high speed” Internet. With YouTube adding movie rentals and original content, a delivery system than consumers are already comfortable with would seem like a nice fit.
A Google representative would not comment on television plans when contacted. Google’s fiber service is set to go live in Kansas City next year. We’ll be keeping an eye out for the possibility of a new kind of Google TV.
[via GTV Source]
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HTC Zeta superphone leaked with insane 2.5GHz processor

HTC has been leaking like a sieve for the last few weeks. The latest goodie to get out of Taiwan is the HTC Zeta, a rumored Ice Cream Sandwich phone with a 2.5 gigahertz Snapdragon processor. Other specs include Ice Cream Sandwich, a full gig of RAM and 4.5-inch 720p display. Naturally, there’s no availability, pricing or verification in sight.

This one goes squarely in the “rumor” category. To round out that unbelievable processor you get 32GB of built-in storage, Sense UI, Beats (see the logo on the bottom) and a 1,830mAh battery. The strangely exposed 8MP battery on the back is twinned to a forward-facing cam with 1.3Mp. For something with a 4.5-inch screen the device is a little chunky at 9.8mm, so I’ll go ahead and add fuel to the fire by guessing that it has LTE as well. Remember that capacitive buttons don’t automatically mean that the device isn’t running Ice Cream Sandwich.
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say this one probably isn’t real. The sharp edges are a pretty radical design departure for HTC, and there’s a good reason that most devices designed to go in your pocket don’t have sharp corners. That crazy 2.5Ghz processor is suspect too; a Snapdragon of that caliber will be available soon, but why upstage your entire product line, including the upcoming Edge, so soon? I’m guessing this is a commendable but fake fan render. Still, I could certainly be wrong, and if I am, expect to see the Zeta or something like it at Mobile World Congress in February.
[via Engadget]

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Eager dev gets Ice Cream Sandwich up and running on PandaBoard

We knew the minute that the Ice Cream Sandwich source code was released, thousands of Android devs were hard at work on ROMs, ports and other projects. It looks like YouTube user pfefferzlinaro gets to claim “first” on an ICS dev build: he’s released a video of Ice Cream Sandwich running from source on a PandaBoard, output to a monitor or small television. The build is extremely early and far from functional but it is, well, first.

A PandaBoard is an ARM system-on-a-chip computer that shares a lot of hardware components with common Android phones and tablets. It’s designed to be a developer test tool – essentially, it allows devs to test their Linux or Android apps (or in this case, operating systems) before moving on to more varied hardware. The developer in question has put together a quick and dirty version of Ice Cream Sandwich just to prove that is can be done. There’s still some interesting things to be seen here, mostly in that the horizontal resolution gives us the first good look at what ICS will be like on a tablet.
Check out the video for yourself below:




You can expect more useful versions of ICS to start appearing within the next few days and weeks. It’s a good bet that the Nexus S and Nexus One will see some very quick ports, with other popular devices to follow. That said, it’ll be a few weeks before any of these ports start approaching the level of daily drivers, so keep a Nandroid backup handy if you’re the tinkering type.

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