Saturday, February 12, 2011

Android 3.0 Honeycomb Ported to Dell Streak

11:43 AM Simranpal SIngh No comments

You knew it was coming. The first steps have been taken toward bringing 3.0 to a handset. Yesterday Stephen Hyde posted pictures and video of the early stages of honeycomb ported to his Dell Streak. While the latest version of Android is far from stable on Stephen’s phone… It’s there and it’s functioning. Will it ever evolve into a fully functional ROM? I believe it will. Will it ever qualify as a practical UI for a cellphone with all the tiny icons intended for a large tablet screen? Probably not, but that’s not the point. The point is that even when Droid doesn’t need to, Droid STILL does! What I’m most excited to see is how many features from Honeycomb will make it into other custom ROMs.



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Specs leaked for Samsung Galaxy S2, HTC Wildfire2, Desire2, Desire HD2

11:38 AM Simranpal SIngh No comments


Just a couple more days until MWC 2011, where we’re sure to hear about the following devices launching, with full specs, maybe even prices too! Who wants to wait for that? Not us, so we grabbed these here spec sheets that got leaked by online mobile retailer Expansys, courtesy of Pocket-Lint screencaps. Pretty good list of devices here, even though the names may change at the official announcements.

HTC Wildfire2

HTC Desire 2

HTC Desire HD 2

Samsung Galaxy S2

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Viewsonic to release dual-SIM Android smartphone, dual-boot Android/Windows 7 tablet

11:34 AM Simranpal SIngh No comments

Although Mobile World Congress hasn’t officially started, the internet is buzzing about the new products Viewsonic intends to debut.
The first device that you see on the left is the Viewsonic V350 smartphone running Android 2.2. Other features include a 3.5-inch HVGA capacitive touchpanel, 5 megapixel camera, a microSD card slot, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1 and GPS. Perhaps the most interesting feature of this device is the dual-SIM capability. Basically, you can insert 2 SIM cards, which gives you more options for data/calling features when traveling overseas.
Next up is the ViewPad 10Pro, which allows dual-booting of Android and Windows 7. This is a particularly great feature for those who want the Android experience but also need to take care of business with Windows 7 programs. This tablet will also utilize Intel’s long-awaited Oak Trail platform. Other specs include a 1024 x 600 LED-backlit capacitive touchscreen, 3G connectivity, WiFi, and Bluetooth.
There’s no official word as to pricing or release on these devices, but we hope it’s sooner than later! You can see the entire press release after the break.
ViewSonic Europe targets prosumer market with Dual-SIM Android Smartphone and Windows/Android dual-boot Tablet device
Devices to be previewed for the first time in Europe at Mobile World Congress on stand 2B77 Hall 2.
Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, 11 February 2011 – ViewSonic Europe, a global provider of computing, consumer electronics and communications solutions, today announced the launch of its new Dual-SIM Android Smartphone, the V350 and its new 10 inch professional tablet PC, the ViewPad 10Pro. Both products have been designed to enable users to easily access both their work and personal life via just one device and will be previewed for the first time in Europe at Mobile World Congress (2B77 Hall 2) on 14 February 2011.
The V350 Smartphone with 3.5 inch display is an active Dual-SIM device running the Android 2.2 Froyo operating system, enabling the use of two network services at the same time. Its Dual-SIM capability is ideal for businesses wishing to provide staff with a mobile device that can offer separate numbers and bills for both personal and business use. This feature also enables travellers to carry just the one phone whilst still be able to take advantage of different pricing plans and network offers for voice and data in various countries. The V350 however does not compromise in other areas, with Android 2.2, a HVGA capacitive touch screen, 5-megapixel auto-focus camera, Micro-SD expansion, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth® 2.1 and assisted GPS navigation.
The ViewPad 10Pro is a 10″ professional tablet PC with dual boot functionality, offering a quick switch capability between Windows® 7 Professional for business use and Google Android 2.2 for personal and social entertainment. Dual-boot enables users to access business software that only runs on Windows and investigate Android without switching completely. Many users enjoy the familiarity of Windows but want to get to know Android and configure their preferences before using it more widely. The ViewPad 10Pro is one of the first tablets to have the Intel Oak Trail processor combined with support for flash 10.1 and the new interface provides an excellent navigation experience. It has a 1024×600 LED backlit capacitive multi-touch panel, is fully connected with 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and has at least six hours of battery life.
“Last month Deloitte predicted, in its annual sector forecast, that UK companies will buy more than 10 million tablet devices in 2011. ViewSonic is well placed to capitalize on this market and offers users the best of both worlds from one device” said Derek Wright, Product Marketing Manager at ViewSonic Europe.
“Our V350 Smartphone is one of the most functional Dual-SIM phones on the market. With Android GMS for access to more than 200,000 Google applications, it has powerful multimedia capabilities and with both SIM cards active, you can place and receive calls on each at any time. The Dual-SIM proposition is compelling and will generate considerable market uptake this year.” Wright concluded.
For the first time in Europe, ViewSonic will also show its ViewPad 10s 3G. Launched at CES in January, the ViewPad 10s now benefits from 3G functionality that enhances current features that include GPS, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR.
About ViewSonic
ViewSonic® Corporation is a leading global provider of visual display and computing products. ViewSonic develops, markets and supports a broad range of innovative products, including computers, LCD monitors, projectors, LCD TVs, digital signage solutions, digital photo frames and other consumer electronics products. For further information, please contact ViewSonic Corporation at 0871 855 3355 or visit http://www.viewsoniceurope.com/uk/
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Nokia Announces “Strategic Partnership” with Microsoft

11:28 AM Simranpal SIngh No comments



Yesterday, our own Michael Murphy wrote about speculation as to what Nokia’s next OS would be, seeing their choices as either Android or Windows OS. Well, today per a press release from the cell phone giant, Nokia made it official…they’re partnering with Microsoft to create a “a new global mobile ecosystem”.

According to the press release, this will mean many things for Nokia. This includes driving Windows Phone as their “principal smartphone strategy”. Bing will now power Nokia’s search, and Nokia Maps will be brought into Microsoft’s mapping services. This also includes joint marketing initiatives, use of Microsoft development tools to create Nokia Windows phones, integrating Nokia’s content and application store into Microsoft Marketplace, and much more.
Not everyone is happy about this new direction for Nokia, though. According to Engadget, over 1,500 workers at Nokia’s Tampere — who were mostly folks who built and worked on their Symbian OS — office have simply walked out, staging a strong, unified, non-violent protest.
While this news saddens folks who were hoping one of the world’s largest handset makers would switch to Android (like me), it’s good in terms of competition for the marketplace, in which place the consumer always wins. It will be interesting to see what kind of awesome handsets we see in the future as a result of this partnership.
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Samsung Renames Mobile Processor Line to “Exynos”

11:25 AM Simranpal SIngh No comments

The folks at Boy Genius Report are reporting that Samsung, in a press release, has renamed their line of mobile processors for phones and tablets to the “Exynos” line. This makes sense, given the high-profile names of other processors like Snapdragon, Hummingbird and so on. In their release they state as follows:
“Application processors for the mobile market are one of the flagship products in our semiconductor business,” said Seh-Woong Jeong, executive vice president of marketing, System LSI Division, Samsung Electronics. “We are excited to introduce the brand name of Exynos for Samsung’s application processor family. As consumers demand more from their mobile products, Samsung’s Exynos chips will be the power inside enabling the coolest HD multi-media features with even longer battery life.”
Their first Exynos processor, the Exynos 4210 — which will have dual 1Ghz cores — will begin production next month.
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Friday, February 11, 2011

Verizon iPhone Retail Release Given Cold Shoulder

6:21 PM Simranpal SIngh No comments

Usually when a new iPhone hits retail stores it is accompanied by large lines of eager customers waiting to snap up the device; however apparently this isn’t the case when it come to the CDMA iPhone releasing to retail.
According to an article over on Engadget by Sean Hollister, Reuters is reporting that the retail launch of the Verizon iPhone drew “sparse crowds” yesterday with flagship Apple stores in New York and San Francisco only managing to pull in as little as 20 people.
As of the afternoon on Thursday stores still had stock of the Verizon iPhone on shelves despite the Big Red expecting huge demand and erecting metal barricades and making sure plenty of employees were on hand.
We have a short video of a Verizon iPhone line taken at the Mall of America in Bloomington for you viewing pleasure courtesy of YouTube user Ojezap, so check it out, and feel free to let us know if you’ve seen similar at other locations.
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Immersion unveils MOTIV Haptics dev platform for Android

6:16 PM Simranpal SIngh No comments



Haptic feedback technology allows touchscreen devices give users more feedback so it is easier to tell when a button or control is activated. There are some phones on the market that use haptics feedback today but most devices don’t. Immersion has announced a new haptics feedback development platform for Android called MOTIV.

The dev platform should make it easier for designers to integrate haptics feedback into new Android devices that will hit the market in the future. The platform has two elements including the MOTIV Integrator for OEMs and the MOTIV SDK for app developers. The Integrator has three parts including the UI module for integrating haptics into the OS user interface, the theme manager module to allow OEMs to choose haptic themes for the OS, and the reverb module that allows apps not optimized for haptics to use haptic feedback.
The SDK is set to hit in March and will offer an assortment of haptics design resources with tools like API, sample code, effect libraries, and more than 100 effects that are already designed. The SDK also has reference docs, and a conversion layer to integrate effects into apps. It also has an effect design studio for advanced users.
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Microsoft Tags now used in USA Today paper

6:12 PM Simranpal SIngh No comments

The world of print publications are still not doing as well as it once was with the very stiff competition from the internet and the fact that a lot of the advertising dollars that used to be used in print have gone to online publications. Print newspapers are trying all sorts of interactive technology to lure readers back to the print world.

One of the coolest things I have seen a paper do recently is integrating Microsoft Tags into the print publications. USA Today has announced that the Tags are now integrated into each section of its newspaper.
Tags can be scanned and read with a free app that is available for just about every major phone platform including Android. Once the app is loaded up, the user can scan the Tags and the Tags will lead them to content to go along with the story including video and other stuff. You can get the Tags app on the Android Market right now.
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Nokia passes on Android because there “are too many players”

6:10 PM Simranpal SIngh No comments



Nokia’s new CEO and former Microsoft man Stephen Elop has been blunt with workers when he says that the company is standing on a burning platform with regards to MeeGo. All the blunt talk about how poorly Nokia is performing had me hoping that the company would turn to an interesting OS like Android for its smartphones.

Apparently, Nokia even considered Android for a while and ultimately chose to pass on Android. Elop said, “There are too many players” in the Android market and worried that Nokia wouldn’t be able to differentiate its products.
Since Nokia didn’t think it could stand out in the Android market it opted to go with Window Phone 7 as the OS for some of its offerings. That is really no surprise considering Elop’s pedigree. The question is will Nokia be able to differentiate in a market where Microsoft is having a hard time competing with its mobile OS, which is only slightly less aflame than MeeGo.


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