Wednesday, February 16, 2011
HTC Makes A Hefty Presence At MWC. HTC Flyer, Incredible S, Desire S, Wildfire S, Salsa & Chacha Get Added To The Arsenal
It’s been a busy day over at the HTC camp and they are certainly not pulling any punches this year at MWC. HTC has revealed quite a number of products, so much, that we decided to roll it all up in one huge mega HTC release post for your convenience. So, without further ado, lets jump right into it.
HTC Flyer Tablet – First up to bat, the highly anticipated and talked about product expected from the Taiwanese handset maker is the HTC Flyer, a 7-inch tablet with a 1.5 GHz single core processor. Yes, you read that right, a 1.5 GHz Qualcomm CPU will power this huge Desire looking tablet. The device will house a 4,000 mAh battery, 1 GB of RAM, 32 GB of storage, a 5 MP camera, 1.3 MP front-facing camera and support WiFi b/g/n protocols. In addition, it will support Bluetooth 3.0, a microSD card slot, HDMI output support, DLNA technology and come pre-loaded with Android 2.4 as it’s primary OS version. No word on price or availability yet, but we’re told we can expect a Q2 release. Check out the great snapshots of the device below along with a hands on , courtesy of our friends over at IntoMobile. Also note, the device will come equipped with a capacitive stylus to give it that true tablet spirit.
HTC Incredible S – Next up is the HTC Incredible S device sporting Sense UI as well, a 4-inch multi-touch screen (480 x 800 resolution) and an HD 8 MP camera with dual LED flash and video recorder (720p). The device will also rock a 1 GHz CPU chip, 1 Gig of RAM and a 1.3 MP front-facing camera.
HTC Desire S – Next up, the HTC Desire S, another Sense UI device sporting a 3.7-inch touch screen with 480 x 800 resolution, 1 GHz Qualcomm CPU, a 5 MP camera with LED flash, 720p HD video recording and a VGA color fixed focus front-facing camera. It will also be accompanied by 1GB of RAM and a memory card slot (microSD) for expandable memory.
HTC Wildfire S – Next up in HTC’s arsenal is the Wildfire S also sporting a 3.2-inch touch screen with 320 x 480 resolution, 600 MHz CPU, Sense UI, 512 MB of RAM, a 5 MP color camera with auto focus and flash. The device will house a 1230 mAh battery.
HTC Salsa – This is one of two handsets that HTC has released, heavily focusing on Facebook. So, while HTC is careful not to call these devices “Facebook phones”, they are definitely geared towards the ever popular social network crowd. The HTC Salsa comes mini jam packed with a dedicated royal blue and pulsating Facebook button at the bottom of the device and a 3.4-inch 480 x 320 touchscreen. It will come pre-loaded with Android version 2.4 (Sense UI). Under the hood there can be found a 600 MHz Qualcomm MSM 7227 chip set, 512 MB of RAM and ROM, a 5 MP auto focus camera with LED flash and a VGA front-facing camera.
HTC Chacha – And last but certainly not least, the HTC Chacha. With similar specs to the Salsa, we can expect to find the device sporting a portrait QWERTY form factor, a similar royal blue Facebook button, Android 2.4, Sense UI with Facebook customization, 600 MHz Qualcomm MSM 7227 CPU, 512 ROM/RAM, 5MP camera with auto focus and LED flash and a VGA front facing camera as well. The screen will support a resolution of 480 x 320 and come in at 2.6-inches. Both devices have been reported as will be arriving by the end of Q2 2011. They will most likely come in a little higher than the Wildfire as far as price point goes and just under the Desire S and Incredible S’s MSRP.
So, there you have it. HTC has unleashed quite the arsenal at MWC. Check out the extended gallery below of all devices courtesy of our friends over at Engadget, BGR and IntoMobile. Let us know what you think in the comments below and what device stands out the most to you.
Intivation Umeox Apollo Solar powered Android smartphone
The Umeox Apollo smartphone from Intivation is a fresh new look at how mobile technology can be fused with Green technology. This little device has a solar-powered back, built-in flashlight, and runs Android 2.2. All packed in this neat little body is 320×480 capacitive touchscreen in a 3.2 inch display (about the size of an HTC Magic /T-Mobile MyTouch), bluetooth 2.1, 3 megapixel camera on the rear, 3.5mm headphone jack, MicroSD support, 1GB storage, and 512MB RAM. Also, it’s only 100g weight. thats what you get when you take out those big batteries I guess.
Pretty nice looking device, and a cheap price! $100 is all you’ll need to grab one of these, but don’t expect it to be a super fast device, basic smartphone usage will be lots for it to handle.
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Huawei Introduces IDEOS line – X3 Smartphone and X7 Tablet
Huawei Reveals Expanded Suite of Smart Devices
at 2011 Mobile World Congress
Huawei IDEOS™ X3 Smartphone – Sleek, stylish design, the thinnest device in the 3.2-inch screen range on the market with latest intuitive Android 2.3 interface
Huawei IDEOS™ S7 Slim next-generation tablet now more streamlined for easier portability
Huawei HiLink for automatic, hassle-free Internet connection anywhere, anytime
Huawei Mobile WiFi Smart Pro wireless modem with intelligent routing
Spain, Barcelona, 15 February 2011: Huawei, a leader in providing next-generation telecommunications network solutions for operators around the world, introduced its latest Android Gingerbread smartphone, the Huawei IDEOS™ X3, at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on 15th February. The ultra-stylish Huawei IDEOS X3 blends sleek hardware with high-performing software to help users more effectively manage their communication and social networking activities.
At the same event, Huawei also launched the Huawei HiLink, a plug-and-link data card which connects users to high-speed Internet on-the-go, the Huawei Mobile WiFi Smart Pro wireless modem, an intelligent device which automatically selects the best high-speed Internet connection available, as well as the Huawei IDEOS™ S7 Slim, a next-generation 7-inch capacitive touchscreen tablet offering a blend of style and portability.
“The IDEOS range and our latest mobile broadband solutions are intuitive, simple to use products that offer users an enhanced mobile experience integrated seamlessly across different wireless technologies,” said Mr. Victor Xu, chief marketing officer of Huawei Device. “As we move into 2011, Huawei will continue to lead the drive to provide consumers with smart mobile connectivity at the right price.”
The Huawei IDEOS™ X3 smartphone: intuitive, power-efficient, ultra-stylish
The Huawei IDEOS X3, featuring an ultra-slim exterior, is a high-performing smartphone that boasts a 3.2-inch capacitive HVGA touchscreen, a 3.2 megapixel camera and the Huawei Handset Over-the-Air and Online Upgrade (HOTA) solution for Android, which provides users easy and timely OS upgrades. It is the thinnest device in the 3.2 inch screen range on the market. The smartphone runs on the latest Android 2.3 Gingerbread platform, which features a refined user interface that makes the smartphone easy to navigate, more intuitive and more power-efficient.
The Huawei IDEOS X3 also comes standard with applications that allow users to easily manage information and seamlessly sync their various social communication channels.
Product availability:
· The Huawei IDEOS™ X3 will be available in Japan via SOFTBANK MOBILE Corp. from Spring 2011
· The Huawei IDEOS™ S7 Slim will be available in April 2011.
· The Huawei HiLink will be available in Europe in Q2 2011.
· The Huawei Mobile WiFi Smartpro will be available in Q2 2011.
About Huawei
Huawei is a leading telecoms solutions provider serving 45 of the world’s top 50 telecom operators. Huawei’s products and solutions have been deployed in over 100 countries and support the communications needs of one third of the world’s population. The company is committed to providing innovative and customized products, services and solutions to create long-term value and growth potential for its customers.
For more information, visit Huawei online: www.huawei.com.
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/huaweipress
and YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/HuaweiPress.READ MORE....
Android 2.x (Ice Cream) to be Honeycomb for smartphones
During his keynote address, Google’s outgoing CEO Eric Schmidt clarified speculation that’s been buzzing around MWC about the next Android OS 2.4 (“which will start with an I”). Schmidt said that while Google is going to apply some of the lessons and features learned in writing Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) for tablets and use them in upcoming smartphones. The new version will be a hybrid, coupling the existing Gingerbread update with Honeycomb to create one single OS.

Scmidt also went on to say that current Android updates are on a six month cycle and while it may be that Gingerbread was released last December with the Google Nexus S, it hasn’t made it to other phones. Keeping with the six month cycle, Vs. 2.3 may get leapfrogged and a new update released in April instead.
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Scmidt also went on to say that current Android updates are on a six month cycle and while it may be that Gingerbread was released last December with the Google Nexus S, it hasn’t made it to other phones. Keeping with the six month cycle, Vs. 2.3 may get leapfrogged and a new update released in April instead.
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HTC bypassing Android 2.3 … sort of
The net is all abuzz over HTC’s quiet mentioning that both the HTC Salsa and ChaCha phones will be bypassing Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) in favor of it’s successor, vs. 2.4. But is the change a lack of confidence in Gingerbread or is it just moving on to a version that fixes bugs that have popped up? Or is it just a typo? Nonetheless, confusion is brewing.

HTC has since corrected their online press release to reflect the phones will be running Gingerbread 2.3.3, which would support the bug fix theory. But many people are wondering if HTC is just hoping for the hybrid version of Honeycomb that Eric Schmidt mentioned in his keynote today which would offer phones many tablet features but can run on a more mobile solution.
If that’s the case, then maybe we’ll just have to wait and see.
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HTC has since corrected their online press release to reflect the phones will be running Gingerbread 2.3.3, which would support the bug fix theory. But many people are wondering if HTC is just hoping for the hybrid version of Honeycomb that Eric Schmidt mentioned in his keynote today which would offer phones many tablet features but can run on a more mobile solution.
If that’s the case, then maybe we’ll just have to wait and see.
READ MORE....
Blu-ray digital copies coming to Android
Hollywood seems to be embracing the Android as a media consumption device as Blu-ray titles have started to come with digital copies of movies optimized for playback on the Android. For awhile now, iPhone users have been able to purchase their favorite movies and have a digital copy code that allows them to download an mp4 through the Internet for viewing on their mobile device. But starting today, with the purchase of a Blu-ray copy of the movie Unstoppable, users can get an Android copy as well.

In addition, Android users can unlock special extra features including a behind the scenes shorts, director commentaries, and even a break down of script development for the film.
To access the Android centric video download, users must have the UNSTOPPABLE Blu-ray disc, a wi-fi connected Blu-ray player, Android 1.6 or higher, and the PocketBLU app.
In addition, Android users can unlock special extra features including a behind the scenes shorts, director commentaries, and even a break down of script development for the film.
To access the Android centric video download, users must have the UNSTOPPABLE Blu-ray disc, a wi-fi connected Blu-ray player, Android 1.6 or higher, and the PocketBLU app.
Industry First for Blu-ray from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment as Blu-ray Digital Copy of UNSTOPPABLE available for AndroidREAD MORE....
With tomorrow’s Blu-ray launch of UNSTOPPABLE, the action-thriller starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pine, Blu-ray Digital Copy will be available for the Android platform for the first time ever. This functionality is an added feature on the UNSTOPPABLE Digital Copy thru BD Live, marking the first time fans with an Android-enabled device will be able to transfer a sell-through movie to their handheld device.
UNSTOPPABLE is an electrifying action-thriller that follows Oscar-winner Denzel Washington* and Chris Pine (Star Trek) as they try to derail an unmanned, half-mile-long runaway freight train transporting deadly toxic material. Only two men can stop the train that is barreling towards Scranton, Pennsylvania: a veteran engineer (Washington) and a young conductor (Pine.) Thousands of lives hang in the balance as these ordinary heroes attempt to chase down one million tons of hurtling steel and prevent an epic disaster. Helmed by visionary director Tony Scott (Man On Fire), this story inspired by actual events delivers excitement and suspense that are…UNSTOPPABLE!
Android users will be able to unlock the feature presentation, as well as UNSTOPPABLE Blu-ray extras (Disc One):
• Derailed: Anatomy of a Scene
• Hanging Off the Train: Stunt Work
• On the Rails with the Director and Cast
• The Fastest Track: Unleashing Unstoppable
• Director Commentary Track
• Tracking the Story: Unstoppable Script Development
To access Blu-ray Digital Copy on Android, users must have the UNSTOPPABLE Blu-ray disc, a wi-fi connected Blu-ray player, Android 1.6 or higher, and the PocketBLU app, which can be downloaded free from the Android Market. UNSTOPPABLE Blu-ray and DVD will be available this Tues., Feb. 15.
Google announces cloud based video editor for Android Tablets
Today at their Mobile World Congress keynote address, Google’s outgoing CEO Eric Schmidt announced the creation of Google Movie Studio, a cloud based movie editor which will allow users to harnass the power of the cloud to edit video, stills, music and effects and then upload it to YouTube with a near instant push of a button. Last year, when Apple announced an iMovie app for iOS 4 devices, the room gave a collective “ooh and aah” of the potential for shooting and editing video on a mobile device. But to do it all in the cloud is brilliant.

Some quick features of Google Movie Studio include a timeline editor, effects and video transitions, audio soundtrack support and the ability to edit and upload HD video.
Now granted, smartphone users won’t be “cutting film” on Froyo any time soon, as it’s been built from the ground up to run on Android tablets running 3.0 (Honeycomb). But since more tablets are pointed in the direction, and with smartphones rapidly expanding into dual-core processors, the ability to edit video online is fantastic. The only thing missing was the software architecture, and the ability to do it from the cloud, means that users can start on one device and finish on another. Perfect for those living a mobile lifestyle. And since users have already uploaded all the content, presumably to Google servers, logging into and uploaded to YouTube will no doubt be seamless and fast.
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Some quick features of Google Movie Studio include a timeline editor, effects and video transitions, audio soundtrack support and the ability to edit and upload HD video.
Now granted, smartphone users won’t be “cutting film” on Froyo any time soon, as it’s been built from the ground up to run on Android tablets running 3.0 (Honeycomb). But since more tablets are pointed in the direction, and with smartphones rapidly expanding into dual-core processors, the ability to edit video online is fantastic. The only thing missing was the software architecture, and the ability to do it from the cloud, means that users can start on one device and finish on another. Perfect for those living a mobile lifestyle. And since users have already uploaded all the content, presumably to Google servers, logging into and uploaded to YouTube will no doubt be seamless and fast.