Sharp RW-T107 Android 2.3 Gingerbread Tablet with NFC

The folks over at Sharp have announced a new NFC enabled tablet headed for Japan. This will be a 7″ Android tablet but initial reports are claiming we will only have Android 2.3 Gingerbread on board here, no Honeycomb for now. A big part of the release is the full support for NFC interaction with support for Japanese FeliCa cards at the start, but we can expect additional cards in the near future.

At first thought this appears to be the first NFC enabled tablet to the market. While I like the idea of having a tablet with the option for NFC it doesn’t seem all that practical if you ask me. It will come to market in the small 7″ form factor making it more portable, but if you are carrying it most likely the chances are you also have an Android smartphone somewhere on you that has the same NFC capabilities. Packing a tablet into a store just doesn’t make much sense but who am I to say what is practical right?
Last we heard from Sharp they were prepping a 7″ Android 3.2 Galapagos tablet so why they’d choose to run with Gingerbread on this next tablet beats me. The NFC capabilities are all nicely there on Gingerbread so that could be the cause. So far the details regarding the RW-T107 and the rest of its hardware are still lacking so we will report back when we can. It is currently being prepped for a Japan only launch around September 5th, hopefully we hear about what is under the hood shortly.
[via SlashGear]

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Motorola DROID Bionic Caught on video, shows us the boot animation and more

Look what we have here, the Motorola Droid Bionic appearing while the camera is rolling. Instead of a Mr. Blurrycam picture we actually get a video today. This may not be much but it does show us the boot animation, the new Moto Blur or whatever you want to call the user interface, as well as another shot of Speedtest giving the Bionic and its 4G LTE a run for its money.

We have been waiting a long long time for the DROID Bionic and the launch date is getting closer each day. We are still hopeful for that September launch we have heard more than a few times. Without much talking here is the video below for your viewing pleasure.



And there it is, the Droid Bionic. while the video doesn’t reveal much we can see that it only has one bar of signal while running the speedtest app so don’t take those as completely accurate. I know from my own testing that full bars really helps the testing results. The tipster mentions the new UI changes are nice, snappy, and are much smoother than previous versions. For all the latest details and leaks regarding this device head over to the Droid Bionic Portal.
[via Phandroid]

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Swype Beta 3.25 Now Available with Copy/Paste Features and more [Video]

Today the latest version of the popular Swype keyboard for Android has been released to beta testers. While many have probably seen or heard about it already I’ll be posting the videos below for you all to see the new features in action. The update is available right now over at the Swype’s beta webpage and so far I’m actually really liking the copy and paste features as well as gestures.

Many phones already have some version of copy and paste features built in, especially HTC Sense UI phones but the new system in which Swype has done it makes things even easier. No longer to you have to remove your finger from the keyboard and tap copy, then hold down and wait for the pop-up and hit paste. It’s all quick and easy using sliding gestures right on the keyboard. I actually am really enjoying this so far. Here are a few of the main new features:
Quick Editing – Access cut, copy, paste, and select-all functions in a flash!
Cut – Swype from the Swype key to the X key
Copy – Swype from the Swype key to the C key
Paste – Swype from the Swype key to the V key
Select-All – Swype from the Swype key to the A key

Send-to-Application – Highlight any text, anywhere, then send it directly to an application with a quick gesture. Currently supported apps are Twitter, Google Maps, and Facebook
Twitter – Swype from the Swype key to T-W to create a new tweet using the highlighted text
Google Maps – Swype from the Swype key to G-M to search Google Maps for the highlighted text
Facebook – Swype from the Swype key to F-B to create a new wall post on Facebook using the highlighted text
It may sound difficult but it’s actually extremely easy and here is a video to show you what I mean. I’ve tried this myself and it really is just as simple as the video makes it out to be.



It really is that simple, smooth, and easy. My favorite feature is actually being able to quickly copy an entire line of text, then with a simple Swype gesture head directly into Google Maps and search for it. No more misspelling addresses or zip codes or anything. Copy a few lines, instantly go into Twitter using the Skype Key + TW gesture opens Twitter but sadly that is currently the only option. Hopefully we will be able to choose the default client Swype opens for people like me that use TweetDeck rather than the default Twitter client. Same thing works for Facebook as well.
While this isn’t anything groundbreaking the amount of ease this actually brings to the table for a few of those simple daily text input and output moments really is a nice touch. Swype and their team have also updated the personal dictionary management as well as introduced something called Swype Connect. With Swype Connect the installation validation just got easier as it collects Swype-specific data and ensures the integrity and validity of the installation. This should help with installation errors for many of the users. Swype reminds us this collects keyboard data only and nothing personal.
Again, head over to the Swype Beta Page for details and download instructions.

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Sony Tablet S Revealed as Release Name for S1

It appears that Sony’s first big Android tablet effort has an official name beyond the very basic “S1″ moniker we’ve been seeing thus far. This tablet will now be called the Sony Tablet S and will indeed be “PlayStation Certified” which places it as only the second Android device to be dubbed so, right after the Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY. This tablet will be blasting into your living room running Android 3.1 Honeycomb sooner than later and will, if Sony does indeed release it with this new “All Our Innovations Folded Into One” set of info intact, have a tablet that allows you to control your whole living room at the tap of a display.

We already know quite a bit about both this flat tablet and the clamshell Android device Sony will be releasing soon, this sheet confirming several items and revealing a few new bits. The Sony S tablet is the magazine-style tablet that’s rolling out with 1,280 x 768 pixel TruBlack LCD panel, Quickview enhancement for speed in browsing your mobile web, and Quick Touch Panel to improve touch responsiveness – we’ll be proving or disproving all of this once we get another hands-on look at the device of course.

This spec sheet shows the device toting a built-in Universal IR remote that’ll control any compatible device around your living room, share, view, and transfer capabilities to add to this experience with DNLA capable PCs, televisions, and speakers. Inside the tablet you’ll find a Video Unlimited app for renting or purchasing movies, purchase music with Music Unlimited app also pre-installed, eBooks available in the same fashion through the pre-installed Reader Store, and of course several PlayStation Certified games will be pre-loaded in the final release as well.
Can you just not wait?



[via Engadget]

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Android Market Updated, Adds +1 Button and Pin Code Security [Download]

It appears another update for Google’s Android Market is starting to roll out today. This isn’t much of a change like we saw a few weeks ago but we do get a few very welcomed changed and additions to the market. What we have here are a few improvements as well as the introduction of the Google +1 button for apps and games.

The biggest change to the new market that is rolling out now and available to download (below) is Google added some new security features that users have been asking and hoping to see for a long time. We now have the same pin code lock/unlock security option as we’ve always had, but now another level placed on the Android market. Now you can choose to have a PIN for opening the Android market this way no one can purchase unwanted applications on your phone.
The new PIN code security is a great feature for those that have kids that love to accidentally buy apps, or that just don’t ask first. This is a great feature to have and something I’ve been waiting to see for a while now. For those that don’t want to wait for the new Market version 3.1.3 to hit your own device feel free to download it with the link below and start enjoying the new features right away.
Android Market v3.1.3 Download
[via Android Police]

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Samsung could be preparing to purchase HP’s PC business

Korea-based notebook brand vendor Samsung Electronics has reportedly contacted Taiwan-based notebook makers Quanta Computer, Compal Electronics and Pegatron Technology in August to evaluate the possibility of outsourcing notebook orders, according to sources from upstream supply chain, which added that there might be a result soon and Samsung may outsource a small volume of orders to these players.

The sources added that Samsung's actions seem like it is already in preparation to take up Hewlett-Packard's (HP's) PC business.

The sources pointed out that Samsung's notebooks are all manufactured at its plants in China, although the company had made contacted Taiwan-based notebook makers several times about outsourcing orders before, there was no result. However, Samsung, earlier this month, invited Quanta, Compal and Pegatron to its headquarters in South Korea with a rather cautious attitude, which the sources believe was an indication that Samsung might be already in preparation for expanding its business.

The sources pointed that the Taiwan's notebook OEM industry's production efficiency and cost control is currently unmatched worldwide; therefore, if Samsung takes over HP's PC department, HP's over 40 million PC shipment volume will still need to depend on Taiwan OEMs. However, related suppliers of components such as panel, memory and battery may be affected as Samsung has a rather strong vertical integration supply chain.

Within HP's 40 million units of PC orders in 2011, Quanta will ship 20 million units with Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) to ship eight million units, Inventec, seven million units, Wistron, 3-4 million units and Compal, two million units.

The sources pointed out that if HP's PC business is sold to other brand players, makers such as Quanta, Foxconn and Inventec are expected to see the most impact as they have higher order proportions with HP, while Wistron and Compal are expected to benefit.

Commenting on the event, Quanta pointed out that since the information is still limited, the company can only monitor the outcome carefully; however, since the new PC orders from HP for 2012 are all already set, it is unlikely to have significant changes. However, if Samsung takes down HP's 40 million units of PC shipments and with Samsung's own 10 million units, the company will need to ship 50-60 million units totally in one year and will definitely need to find OEM partners as Samsung itself may have difficulty to make all these orders, Quanta noted.

However, Quanta will continue to work on cloud computing and the related products in the future to increase its non-notebook business' contribution.

Meanwhile, Inventec pointed out that HP's announcement seems like is for testing the market's reaction and believes that whether HP will sell the business will still depend on the market's feedbacks. In addition, since HP is given up its PC business because of the weak profitability of consumer notebooks, Inventec, which is manufacturing mainly HP's enterprise notebooks, expects to only see a limited impact from the event.

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Samsung Galaxy S II “Big in America” Ad Released

The folks at Samsung have released a brand new advertisement for the Samsung Galaxy S II, aka one of the best selling phones in history, showing it off in several places in the world ending up letting us know that it’s coming to the USA soon! It’s big in Europe, it’s big in Asia, it’s big all over the world they say, “and soon it will be big in America.” Is this again some indication that the Samsung Unpacked at IFA 2011 trailers were indeed speaking about something having to do with the Samsung Galaxy S II or an upgrade? We shall see!


What this new advertisement shows us is that the device will be here in America soon having been massively successful around the world up unto this point. Several placements of the phone are done showing absurd combinations of real people or landmarks and a video of a replacement part on the smartphone. One thing to note that many radical religion-wild viewers might have a problem with is the RIO Jesus being covered up by a unicycler while the words “Millions of devoted followers” on top.



What do you think? Massively offensive or just harmless fun? We’re majorly on the harmless fun side, and certainly can’t wait for the device to be released here in the states. Any luck and we’ll be seeing this device inside a month. Another oddity is in the tags on this video as it appears on YouTube:

Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S II
Galaxy S II
GSII
Android
Smart Phone
android
mobile
wireless
cell phone
iphone
phones
nokia
touch
review
gps
wii
handy
google

Perhaps the Nokia and Wii tags are just to gain some extra attention – but maybe something more notorious is in the works? We’ll be in NYC, New York on the 29th of August to see what all the business is about – stick with us here on ANdroid Community for the sweetest coverage!
)

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Samsung Impulse 4G Headed to AT&T as first 4G LTE Phone

While AT&T still has yet to actually officially launch their 4G LTE network we are now seeing a few signs of life regarding the upgraded service. This week AT&T is launching a few 4G LTE Mobile hotspot devices but so far nothing else has been announced. What we are now hearing is the Samsung Impulse 4G will be the first LTE smartphone to hit AT&T later this fall.

What you see above is the image that was recently leaked of the next-gen smartphone. The last thing we heard regarding AT&T’s 4G LTE network was that no smartphones would be launching with LTE until very late 2011, but if we are starting to see leaked devices already things may be moving along a bit better than expected. With rumors of the HTC Jetstream (aka puccini) launching in October with 4G LTE AT&T might finally be ready.
The leaked Samsung Impulse 4G LTE looks extremely similar to the Samsung Droid Charge over on Verizon Wireless, which is also an LTE device. It could be possible that Samsung has slightly redesigned the smartphone and are prepping it for an AT&T launch. While we have no specs to confirm if it indeed is similar to the Charge it will feature a 4.3″ AMOLED display, 8MP camera on the rear and a 1 Ghz processor but hopefully we will see some dual-core power with the device.
AT&T’s 4G LTE network is severely lacking behind Verizon’s efforts and are quickly getting left farther behind. They need to get it going, and do it quickly before it’s too late. This week alone Verizon has announced over 30 more cities getting 4G LTE in the next month.
[via SlashGear]

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Android has the most Malware according to McAfee

McAfee is one of the larger security and virus protection companies out the. The company has put a lot of work into helping to secure Android devices with their soaring popularity for users and as targets for attackers. McAfee has said that Android is plagued by the most Malware of all OS’. The amount of malicious software targeting Android has grown 76% in the last quarter according to McAfee.

McAfee also reports that overall it found 12 million unique types of malware in the first half of the year. That number is an increase of 22% from last year during the same period. The company notes that the attacks are becoming more sophisticated. That means that the attacks are staying unnoticed for longer periods, and thereby infecting more devices.
Android surpassed Symbian as the most targeted mobile operating system in the world. Android is increasingly becoming a target for cybercriminals says McAfee. That is a concern for Android users and while the openness of Android is a big plus, Apple may feel pretty smug in that it checks out each app hands on to prevent malware from apps that are purchased via iTunes.
[via CNET]

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