Posted: 25 Feb 2012 04:01 PM PST   Mobile World Congress will probably be Android’s main event of the year. All manufacturers are showing off their best products, and we are seeing the smaller guys rising out of the ground. A good example is Viewsonic, which is said to release some good low-to-mid tier devices, including an Android 4.0 tablet and 3 phones. The tablet is rumored to be called the Viewsonic ViewPad G70. Specs include a dual-core processor, a 7-inch (1024x600p) display, 1 GB of RAM, 4 GB of internal storage and two cameras (front being a 2 MP shooter). Ports will include a microSD card, HDMI, micro USB and mini USB. According to the rumors, all of this will amount to a good $350 price tag, for the 3G version. It is not a bad price, but with devices like the ASUS MeMo 370T coming at $250 with a Tegra 3 processor, it is hard to compete. (I have a feeling we will be saying this for a while). On the smartphone side, Viewsonic is targetting a completely different market. These devices are considered low-end, but the lure is that they pack dual-SIM capabilities. This means that the device can work with two GSM networks simultaneously. Many of you may find no use in such a feature, but it is actually something that can help many travelers. As a San Diego, CA resident, I know a handful of people that come and go to/from Mexico. They usually own two devices, one for each side of the border, and have a dual-SIM device may simplify their lifestyles. Let’s take a look at them: ViewPhone 4S This device has a 3.5-inch IPS 640 x 960 display, a 1 GHz processor, a 5 MP rear-facing camera and a VGA front-facing camera. It is not the best phone around, but it is certainly the best out of Viewsonic’s selection. ViewPhone 4E This one has a 3.5-inch display, as well, but the definition is lower (320 x 480). It is also weak on other specifications, packing a 650 MHz processor and a 5 MP camera. ViewPhone 5E There are not many details about this one, aside from the fact that it has a 5-inch 480x800p display. We assume that it will be as good as the 4S, though, as it is aimed at business users. It would be a good purchase for someone that likes larger screens and dual-SIM capabilities. ConclusionAs mentioned, none of these are top-notch. Such is the case for most dual-SIM devices, though. And the general consumer doesn’t always need a powerhouse. They are not as bad-looking as we would expect, also. So if you are in the market for one of these, stay tuned for more details come MWC.Are any of you interested in these affordable gadgets? [Source: Kisplay Via: Android Central] |
Posted: 25 Feb 2012 03:26 PM PST   The ASUS Transformer Prime has been running into a few issues with random reboots. A new update has just hit these devices, claiming to fix the issue. There might be other improvements, but we are not exactly certain of them just yet. Users are claiming that the update is making the device sluggish for a few minutes, after booting it. So don’t freak out if you feel like your tablet is having some hiccups when it is turned on. To get the update, simply go tot he settings and hit “About Tablet.” Look for software updates and you should be getting your fix right away. Have any of you tried this update yet? Have you noticed any other improvements? [Via: Android Central] |
Posted: 25 Feb 2012 02:46 PM PST   And for another round of leaks, we have a few devices coming from Samsung. This image comes from BestBoyz, who have gotten a glimpse of a few devices ahead of Monday’s Samsung announcement. We have three devices, which include a tablet (GT-P5100) and two smartphones.  The Galaxy Tab looks much like the 10.1N, which was designed after Sammy lost a patent lawsuit against Apple. It has a bezel that extends to the front of the tablet, and speaker grills on each side. We do not yet know the specs, but it looks like this tablet will have Android 4.0 and a 10.1-inch display. Odds are that it will have a dual-core processor, but Samsung may very well surprise us with some quad-core goodness.  If we move on to the smartphones, we will notice that they are not exactly the best looking, and odds are that the specs are parallel to the aesthetics. But there is one little detail that calls our attention. It seems like one of the smartphones has a projector built-in (unless it is a very bad-looking camera or flashlight). This might be great for those that would like to watch movies or play games on the go.We are sure more details will come during Samsung’s Mobile World Congress presentation, so stay tuned. But tell us, would you guys want a projector built into your smarpthone? [Source: BestBoyz Via: SammyHub] |
Posted: 25 Feb 2012 02:25 PM PST   We have already covered all the leaked images of the almighty HTC One X. Some of you may be interested in a mid-tier device like the HTC One S, though (formerly known as HTC Ville) . It is very hard to start calling these devices “mid-tier.” Just a couple of months ago, this smartphone would have been a beast, compared to the competition. Times are moving, though, and so must we. This round of leaked images give you a quick look at the HTC One S. We must say that it looks really good. And that speaker grill gives it some style (while it does look a bit extraneous). As you can see, the menu button is also gone. The look is not bad, it is just different, and might take some getting used to.  In case you have forgotten, rumored specs include a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 1 GB of RAM, a 4.3-inch display and an 8 MP camera. This also seems to be one of the thinnest HTC phones in existence, as portrayed in the image, being compared to an HTC Sensation. As you can see, this is still a rocking smartphone, and it may be a great option for those not willing to pocket out all that money for the Tegra 3 HTC One X. Are any of you considering this to be your next device? [Source: IT Pro Portal Via: Android Community] |
Posted: 25 Feb 2012 01:48 PM PST   If you have been looking for a safe way to get .apk files, this may very well be your best bet. Developer redphx has just released a new Chrome extension, which allows you to download .apk files straight from the Android Market. There are many reasons why you may want to get the app files downloaded to your PC. It would mostly be useful for those with Android devices that do not have access to the Android Market. Such users usually download the .apk files from shady websites or third-party app stores, in order to side-load them into their phone or tablet. Many times, these sites have malicious apps, though. This extensions would allow users to get their apps while taking advantage of the Android Market’s security. We could also see users being able to get paid apps for free. By no means do we condone such actions. Developers work very hard to make these apps. So please keep things fair and try to support the developers. Those that would like to take advantage of this service can go ahead and download it by hitting the source link. There are a few steps that need to be taken before being able to use this, so make sure you follow the instructions. Check out the video below to see a demo of APK Downloader, and let us know what you think. Will you be using this service? What other uses do you see for this? [Source: codekiem Via: The Verge] |
Posted: 25 Feb 2012 01:27 PM PST   Currently, Dropbox is the king of cloud storage services. But if any service has a chance at taking over the market, it is Google Drive. And it looks like it may not only offer an awesome and affordable service, but other developers will be able to access it. The unofficial Google Operating System blog has looked into some old files and believes that Google will be opening its Google Drive software to third-party developers. This would mean that any service (like the above mentioned) would be able to take advantage of the new cloud starage service. It is rumored that Google will be releasing the SDK, but that isn’t the only news. It seems like our friends also believe that this service will be closely integrated to Gmail. This is not surprising, as we know Google loves integrating all of its services to work together. We will have to wait a bit more to hear official details about this, so take it with a grain of salt. Do you guys see a great future for this cloud storage service? And what features do you see coming to Gmail and Google Drive, if this is true? [Source: Google Operating System Via: PandoDaily] |
Posted: 25 Feb 2012 01:03 PM PST   Googlerola still has some countries to convince. But Google made an announcement, a couple of days ago, that hints at the idea that the deal is almost ready to go through. Google has decided to put its very own Dennis Woodman at the head of Motorola Mobility, as CEO. It has been said that Jha would be getting $66 million after the Google/Motorola merger goes through. This may have Sanjay very content about the acquisition, but the industry is starting to worry. When this acquisition was announced, Google mentioned that Motorola Mobility was going to be left alone. And the acquisition’s purpose was mostly meant for broadening Google’s patent portfolio. Making a Google employee CEO of Motorola is quite the huge jump, though. And it looks like the changes might start showing up sooner than we expected. Dennis Woodside has been with Google since 2003. Holding positions asDirector of Business Operations, Managing Director of Emerging Markets, Managing Director and VP of Google UK, President of Google Americas, and Senior Vice President of Google, Woodside is no little guy for the Search Giant. Ever since I met Dennis in 2003, I have been impressed by his combination of entrepreneurialism and operational excellence. He’s never afraid to try new things and always ready to roll up his sleeves and pitch in.Needless to say that Woodside is a great asset for both Google and Motorola. But we will have to see how the future of Android is affected by this. Let’s hope that Motorola does not become the main Android player. Android’s success is highly affected by competition, and we would like to see such staying consistent. Do you guys think we will see some Motorola favoritism going on in the coming years? [Source: Bloomberg Via: Android and Me] |
Posted: 25 Feb 2012 12:39 PM PST   Google services are known for working great together. In an attempt to further improve the Google experience, the Search Giant has integrated Google+ circles to Google Voice. This would make it easier for you to manage and organize your settings based on your circles of friends. Imagine being able to choose entire groups for a certain setting. One can send certain weirdos straight to voicemail, or block their texts. IT would also be possible to use different voicemails for different circles. Or set your work circle to only send calls to your work phone. You can now go ahead and manage your Google Voice circles as preferrable. So go to your settings and start organizing everything. Are any of you going to start using these features? [Source: Google] |
Posted: 25 Feb 2012 12:24 PM PST   4G LTE is the fastest mobile data technology we have around, but it has been having issues with adoption. This is mainly due to the fact that many chips do not support LTE connectivity. Most manufacturers lean towards Qualcomm for LTE-compatible chipsets. Tegra 3 processors have been about the most desired devices for LTE users, but this is about to change, as NVIDIA is working on making its devices LTE-compatible. NVIDIA has formed a partnership with GCT Semiconductor and Renesas mobile to bring the blazing speeds of 4G LTE to its products. It might take some time before we start seeing these devices show up, though. We can all hope for some more details to be announced during the coming days. And we can’t wait to play around with some of these smartphones. Mixing the performance of Tegra processors with 4G LTE speeds sounds like the deal of the year. Let’s stay tuned for more details. But for now, let us know what you think! Have you been waiting to see Tegra 3 devices running on 4G LTE networks? [Source: NVIDIA Via: Engadget] |
Posted: 25 Feb 2012 11:39 AM PST   The Mobile World Congress madness is about to get started. But it would not be the same without a fair share of leaks. And today, we have images and details of one of the most awaited HTC devices – the HTC One X (Previously known as HTC Edge or Endeavor). We have already seen a bit about this bad boy this morning, as well as a couple of days ago. But this time around we have a flurry of pictures accompanied by a full screenshot of the specifications. Here, you can see all the details we have been hearing of for some months, now, at their full glory. Specs include a 1.5GHz quad-core Tegra 3 processor, 1 GB of RAM, a 4.7-inch 720p display and 32 GB of internal storage. For the rest of the details, check out the specs sheet and the rest of the images below. And let’s sit tight for more details come HTC’s MWC announcement!        [Source: FullGSM.gr Via: BGR] |
Posted: 25 Feb 2012 11:19 AM PST   Ubuntu for Android has caused quite the stir, since it was released a few days ago. The idea of carrying your computer in your pocket is simply astounding. We have seen it in action already, but only briefly. And our friends from Engadget have taken it upon themselves to get more details straight from Canonical. Engadget has managed to get over 13 minutes of video time with one of Canonical’s engineers. The video offers a detailed look at the software, and responds to some important questions. Overall, the idea seems great, and the software looks very promising. But it also looks like this project will need more work, as it looks a bit sluggish. It is mentioned that manufacturers will be able to make it much better, though, by tweaking the software to work specifically with its devices. It is also important to note that this has not been tested in anything stronger than a Motorola Atrix. It would be great to see how well it works with a Tegra 3 processor. And if you were wondering, the software is still meant for being dealt with by manufacturers. The interviewed engineer mentions that he feels like an independent developer would not be able to accomplish the same level of performance that a manufacturer would. But we have seen our community of developers work, so who knows. Check out the video to see what Ubuntu for Android is all about. Are you guys looking forward to seeing this in your future devices? |
Posted: 25 Feb 2012 10:43 AM PST   The tablet will be available to all business class flyers on Virgin’s 737 and E-190 planes, while economy class flyers can rent them on flights longer than 3 hours. As expected, the ability to customize the operating system played a major role in the decision. But there were other factors, too, which made the Galaxy Tab 10.1 the favored option, which Virgin Australia CEO John Borghetti told Australian Business Traveller when asked why not the Apple iPad 2. The Samsung tablet is being recognized as a better product than Apple. That’s not unusual, second-generation stuff usually is. In fact, it’s getting better reviews than the iPad 2. The screen itself is better, and the [Android-based] system is a plus. It’s (also) much thinner, as you know, and overall it’s a better product.[Source: Australian Business Traveller via Android Central] |
Posted: 25 Feb 2012 10:43 AM PST   Most Android fans are probably elbowing and fighting for a quad-core tablet right now. Those bad boys are smooth, but if you are a fan of aesthetics, one of your best bets is the Toshiba Excite X10 (AT200). We have already seen it hit the UK, but today’s good news are for our fellow Canadians, who can now pre-order this super thin tablet. Back in December, Toshiba’s Canadian website promised that this device would hit the streets by January 2012. As it goes with these products, plans don’t always work as expected. But the Excite X10 has been showing up at retailer’s websites, and the shipping date is stated to be February 29th. This is not a bad tablet to own. It packs a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, Android 3.2, 10.1-inch display, a 5 MP rear-facing camera and a 2 MP front-facing camera. But what really makes this tablet stand out is its aesthetics. The tablet has a brushed metallic finish that gives it a very elegant look. Not to mention that it is only 7.7 mm thin, making it one of the thinnest tablets out there.  This device is pre-selling for $550 for the 16 GB version, and $600 for the 32 GB version. If you are into power, you can get an ASUS Transformer Prime for a bit less, though. Or other Tegra 2 tablets for much less. Regardless, we hope this one gets to the US soon. But for now, Canadians can go ahead and pre-order it at futureshop.ca. Is anyone going to get a Toshiba Excite X10? Would you rather get a Tegra 3 tablet? [Source: FutureShop.ca Via: MobileSyrup] |
Posted: 25 Feb 2012 10:13 AM PST  BGR is reporting that the Samsung Galaxy S III, which sadly won’t be unveiled at MWC, might sport a 4.8" screen. They’ve also shown a mock-up of the device, with an edge-to-edge screen similar to the Galaxy B rumors from yesterday.  Other rumors include a much desired (at least for me) move away from a plastic body, although the choice of ceramic is certainly unorthodox. Additionally, BGR says that the launch would occur simultaneously in 50 markets or cities around the globe. |
Posted: 25 Feb 2012 07:27 AM PST   I guess you know you’ve got way too many apps installed on your phone/tablet if you can go three weeks since starting a series like this. Unlike the previous two occasions, when I focussed on tablet apps and phone apps separately, this week is going to be a mix. Box: The offer of 50GB free online storage is really tempting. Until you realise that you’ve got to pay or a desktop sync client. That’s a major deal-breaker for me. I don’t really use cloud storage that much, so Dropbox’s 3GB (I believe its 2GB to start with) limit is more than sufficient for me. Microsoft OneNote: Till I ditched Windows for a Mac last year, OneNote was probably the most useful productivity software I used. I always dreamt of a quality tablet with a good stylus input with OneNote onboard. When I learnt that they had released an Android app, I was really hopeful to see what it was capable of. Sadly, this took me barely a few minutes to uninstall. There just isn’t a killer feature anywhere, I find Evernote to be vastly superior in just about any sense, plus OneNote doesn’t have a native Mac app. Real Football 2012 HD: A game that limits your stamina so you can only play a certain amount, unless you purchase more stamina? That stuff should be limited just to Facebook games. Let me pay a certain amount and get a completely unlimited pass to it. The game also took me 6 whole minutes once to start a match, because it first needed to verify my files again, then started a tutorial and forgot my earlier tournament, despite knowing I’ve crossed a couple of levels. Others: StreamLife, Spool, Paper Camera |
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Update - 64
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